Method and apparatus for providing notification

ABSTRACT

An electronic including a transceiver configured to receive, from at least one wearable device, information indicating whether the at least one wearable device is being worn; and a processor configured to determine whether the at least one wearable device that is being worn, based on the received information indicating whether the at least one wearable device is being worn, and to provide a notification to the at least one wearable device in response to determining that the at least one wearable device is being worn.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/786,682, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/432,563, filed on Jun. 5, 2019, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,638,452, issued on Apr. 28, 2020, which is a continuationU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/384,311, filed on Apr. 15, 2019, inthe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,638,451,issued on Apr. 28, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/116,537, filed on Aug. 29, 2018, in the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,292,134, issued on May14, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/802,796, filed on Jul. 17, 2015, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,136,409, issued on Nov. 20, 2018, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/719,520, filed onMay 22, 2015, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, now U.S. Pat. No.9,622,214, issued on Apr. 11, 2017, which is a continuation in part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/590,699, filed on Jan. 6, 2015, inthe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,009,873,issued on Jun. 26, 2018, which claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2014-0062622, filed on May 23, 2014, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office and from Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0018873, filed on Feb. 6, 2015, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toproviding a notification from an electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various types of electronic devices, such as smartphones, smart watches,smart glasses, and tablet personal computers (PCs), have been developed.Situations or environments in which various types of electronic devicesare used may vary according to the features thereof. Also, differenttypes of electronic devices are often used together such thatcommunication can be established therebetween. For example, a smartphoneand a smart watch may be used together such that communication can beestablished therebetween.

A user may receive various types of notifications while using anelectronic device. For example, the user may receive various types ofnotifications, such as a text message, an email, a message of amessenger application, etc. Accordingly, there is a need to develop amethod of appropriately providing a notification to a user when the useruses various types of electronic devices together.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments relate to preventing a notificationthat a user is not likely to check from being provided.

One or more exemplary embodiments relate to increasing a probabilitythat a user will immediately check a notification.

One or more exemplary embodiments relate to providing a notificationsuch that a user is not interrupted by the notification.

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a wearable device with anotification in an appropriate form when an electronic device and thewearable device operate while communicating with each other.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided anelectronic device including: a transceiver configured to receive, fromat least one wearable device, information indicating whether the atleast one wearable device is being worn; and a processor configured todetermine whether the at least one wearable device is being worn, basedon the received information indicating whether the at least one wearabledevice is being worn, and to provide a notification to the at least onewearable device in response to determining that the at least onewearable device is being worn.

The processor may be configured to, in response to determining that anyone of the at least one wearable device is not being worn, control thetransceiver to provide the notification via the electronic device.

The processor may be configured to control the transceiver to providethe notification to a device that is in use from among the electronicdevice and the at least one wearable device.

The processor may be configured to, in response to determining that theat least one wearable device is not being worn, suspend providing of thenotification until the processor detects that one of the at least onewearable device is being worn.

The processor may be configured to, in response to a device being in usefrom among the electronic device and the at least one wearable device,determine whether the notification is permitted to be provided to thedevice that is in use while a function is performed by the device thatis in use, and control the transceiver to provide the notification tothe device that is in use based on the determination of whether thenotification is permitted to be provided to the device.

The processor may be configured to obtain information regarding aremaining charge capacity of a battery of the determined wearable devicethat is being worn, via the transceiver, and control the transceiver toprovide the notification to the determined wearable device that is beingworn in response to the remaining charge capacity of the battery of thedetermined wearable device that is being worn by the user being equal toor greater than a predetermined threshold.

The electronic device may also include a sensor configured to sense astate of the electronic device, and the processor may be configured toobtain information regarding a state of the at least one wearable devicevia the transceiver, and determine a form of the providing of thenotification based on at least one selected from the state of theelectronic device and the state of the at least one wearable device.

The processor may be configured to transform a notification requestprotocol, which is to be transmitted to the determined wearable devicebeing worn that is to be provided with the notification, based on atleast one selected from an operating system and a protocol of thedetermined wearable device being worn by the user that is to be providedwith the notification.

The processor may be configured to control the transceiver to providethe notification to a plurality of devices among the electronic deviceand the at least one wearable device, and cancel the providing of thenotification with respect to remaining devices in response to a deviceamong the plurality of devices to which the notification is providedchecking the notification.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a method of providing a notification from an electronic deviceto at least one wearable device capable of communicating with theelectronic device, the method including: obtaining informationindicating whether the at least one wearable device is being worn; anddetermining weather the at least one wearable device is being worn basedon the obtained information indicating whether the at least one wearabledevice is being worn and providing the notification to the at least onewearable device in response to determining that the at least onewearable device is being worn.

The method may further include providing the notification via theelectronic device, in response to any one of the at least one wearabledevice not being worn.

The method may further include providing the notification to a devicethat is in use, from among the electronic device and the at least onewearable device, to provide the notification.

The method may further include in response to the at least one wearabledevice not being worn, suspending the providing of the notificationuntil one of the at least one wearable device is being worn.

The method may further include, in response to a device being in usefrom among the electronic device and the at least one wearable device,determining whether the notification is permitted to be provided to thedevice that is in use while a function is performed by the device thatis in use, and providing the notification to the device that is in usebased on the determining.

The method may further include obtaining information regarding aremaining charge capacity of a battery of the determined wearable devicethat is being worn.

The providing of the notification may include providing the notificationto the determined wearable device that is being worn in response to theremaining charge capacity of the battery of the determined wearabledevice that is being worn by the user being equal to or greater than apredetermined threshold.

The method may further include: sensing a state of the electronicdevice; obtaining information regarding a state of the at least onewearable device; and determining a form of the providing of thenotification, based on at least one selected from the state of theelectronic device and the state of the at least one wearable device.

The method may further include transforming a notification requestprotocol, which is to be transmitted to the determined wearable devicethat being worn that is to be provided with the notification, based onat least one selected from an operating system and a protocol of thedetermined wearable device being worn by the user that is to be providedwith the notification.

The method may further include providing the notification to a pluralityof devices among the electronic device and the at least one wearabledevice, and canceling the providing of the notification with respect toremaining devices in response to a device among the plurality of devicesto which the notification is provided checking the notification.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a wearable device including: a transceiver configured tocommunicate with at least one electronic device; a processor configuredto obtain information indicating whether the wearable device is beingworn; and a notification providing unit configured to provide anotification in response to the information indicating whether thewearable device is being worn indicates that the wearable device isbeing worn.

The processor may be configured to, in response to the wearable devicenot being worn, request that the at least one electronic device toprovide the notification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device and a wearabledevice according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a structure of an electronic deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating criteria for determining whether awearable device is worn according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a structure of a notification providingunit according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a structure of a communication unitaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a structure of a wearable device accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification when there are a plurality of wearable devicesthat are in a wearing state, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a table illustrating preset priorities according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method of providing a notificationwhen there are a plurality of wearable devices in a wearing stateaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a table illustrating cases in which it is determined that adevice is in use according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment in whichwhether an electronic device and at least one wearable device are in useis considered;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification when a plurality of devices are in use accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a notification isprovided according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating that a notification is providedaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a table illustrating a list of functions that do not permit anotification to be provided while the functions are performed accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a structure of an electronic deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a structure of a wearable device accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a structure of sensor unit included in anelectronic device or a wearable device according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device to which anotification is to be provided according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a table illustrating criteria for determining whether adevice is a recognizable device and a non-recognizable device accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a method of detecting a line of sightaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a structure for explaining a processof considering a communication state between devices according to anembodiment;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 38 is a table illustrating a device that is predetermined toprovide a notification according to the form of a notification eventaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a flowchart of a method of determining a form of anotification according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of a method of determining a form of anotification according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a table illustrating a list of cases in which a soundnotification is not appropriate according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a table illustrating examples of a predetermined device thatwill provide a notification and a predetermined form of the notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 46 is a table illustrating examples of predetermined criteria for adevice that will provide a notification of a notification event thatcommunication between a smart watch and an electronic device isdisconnected and a form of the notification when the smart watch and theelectronic device are used together, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 47 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 48 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 49 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a method of determining a device thatprovides a notification according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 53 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 54 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 55 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 56 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 57A is a flowchart of a method of providing a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 57B is a flowchart of a method of providing a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 58 is a view illustrating an example of a wearable devicebroadcasting information indicating a change in a wearing state as thewearing state of the wearable device is changed;

FIG. 59 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 60 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 61 is a block diagram of a server, an electronic device, and atleast one wearable device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 62 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 63 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 64 is a diagram illustrating a communication manner according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a communication manner according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 66 is a diagram illustrating a communication manner according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 67 is a flowchart of a method of transmitting a signal according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 68 is a block diagram of structures of an electronic device and awearable device according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 69 is a block diagram of a structure of an electronic device or awearable device according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The advantages and features of the present inventive concept and methodsof accomplishing them will be apparent from exemplary embodiments thatwill be described below and the accompanying drawings. The presentinventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as being limited to the exemplary embodimentsset forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully conveythe present inventive concept to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thespirit and scope of the present inventive concept are defined by theappended claims.

The terms used herein will be briefly described and then the presentinventive concept will be described in detail.

In the present disclosure, general terms that have been widely usednowadays are selected, if possible, in consideration of functions of thepresent inventive concept, but non-general terms may be selectedaccording to the intentions of technicians in the this art, precedents,or new technologies, etc. Also, some terms may be arbitrarily chosen bythe present applicant. In this case, the meanings of these terms will beexplained in corresponding parts of the present disclosure in detail.Thus, the terms used herein should be defined not based on the namesthereof but based on the meanings thereof and the whole context of thepresent inventive concept.

In the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms, suchas ‘include’ or ‘have,’ etc., are intended to indicate the existence ofthe features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, orcombinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are notintended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features,numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof mayexist or may be added. Also, the term ‘unit’ should be understood assoftware or a hardware element, such as a field-programmable gate array(FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The term‘unit’ is capable of performing functions. However, the term ‘unit’ isnot limited to software or hardware. The term ‘unit’ may be an elementthat can be configured to be included in an addressable storage mediumor can be configured to reproduce one or more processors. Thus, examplesof the term ‘unit’ may include elements (such as software elements,object-oriented software elements, class elements, and task elements),processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments ofprogram code, drivers, firmware, micro-codes, circuits, data, adatabase, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. Functionsprovided in elements and units may be combined using a smaller number ofelements and units or may be subdivided using additional elements andunits.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “atleast one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire listof elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept willbe described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings sothat those of ordinary skill in the art can easily accomplish them.Also, parts that are not related to describing the present inventiveconcept are omitted in the drawings for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device 110 and at leastone wearable device 120 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the electronic device110 and the at least one wearable device 120 operate while communicatingwith each other. According to the current exemplary embodiment, the atleast one wearable device 120 may provide a notification regarding anotification event occurring in the electronic device 110, and theelectronic device 110 may provide a notification regarding anotification event occurring in the at least one wearable device 120.

The electronic device 110 may be embodied, for example, as a smartphone,a tablet personal computer (PC), a camera, a television, a home systemcontrol device, an automobile, etc.

The at least one wearable device 120 may be embodied, for example, as asmart watch, smart glasses, smart earphones, smart shoes, a smart ring,a smart bracelet, etc.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notificationoccurs in the electronic device 110 or the at least one wearable device120, the notification may be provided by the at least one wearabledevice 120, the electronic device 110, or both the electronic device 110and the at least one wearable device 120, based on whether the at leastone wearable device 120 is worn or not by a user.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the number of the electronicdevice 110 may be one and the number of the at least one wearable device120 may be one or more.

The notification event may be an event that a notification should beimmediately provided to a user. Examples of the notification eventinclude receiving a phone call, receiving a text message, receiving amessenger application message, receiving an email, a schedulenotification, a notification of a social network service (SNS)application, notifications of various other applications, operatingsystem notification, etc. According to one exemplary embodiment, a formof the notification event may be set by a user based on a setting menuof the electronic device 110.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a structure of an electronic device 110 aaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current embodiment, the electronic device 110 aincludes a processor 210, a notification providing unit 220 (e.g., anotification provider), and a communication unit 230 (e.g., atransceiver).

The processor 210 controls overall operations of the electronic device110 a. According to the current exemplary embodiment, the processor 210detects a notification event and determines a device that will provide anotification regarding the notification event. A device that willprovide the notification regarding the notification event may be one ormore devices selected from among the electronic device 110 a and atleast one wearable device 120 that communicates with the electronicdevice 110 a. The processor 210 may obtain information indicatingwhether the wearable device 120 is worn, from the wearable device 120,through a specific channel established by using the communication unit230 that will be described later.

The processor 210 may determine the device that will provide thenotification regarding the notification event, based on informationindicating whether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn by auser. According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 providesthe notification to the at least one wearable device 120 when the atleast one wearable device 120 is in a wearing state, and provides thenotification using the notification providing unit 220 of the electronicdevice 110 a when the at least one wearable device 120 is in anon-wearing state. In one exemplary embodiment, when the notification isprovided to the at least one wearable device 120, the electronic device110 a may also provide the notification or may not provide thenotification.

In the present disclosure, the term ‘wearing state’ means a state inwhich a user wears the at least one wearable device 120 and the term‘non-wearing state’ means a state in which the user does not wear the atleast one wearable device 120.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn includes sensingvalues of sensors included in the at least one wearable device 120. Thesensing values may include, for example, a value indicating whether alocking structure is fastened, information regarding motion detection, abio-signal, etc. According to the present exemplary embodiment, theprocessor 210 may determine whether the at least one wearable device 120is in the wearing state or the non-wearing state, based on theinformation indicating whether the at least one wearable device 120 isworn.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn is informationindicating whether the at least one wearable device 120 is in thewearing state or the non-wearing state. According to the currentexemplary embodiment, whether the at least one wearable device 120 is inthe wearing state or the non-wearing state is determined.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 may receive theinformation indicating whether the at least one wearable device 120 isworn by requesting the at least one wearable device 120 to provide thisinformation.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the at least one wearabledevice 120 may periodically transmit this information to the electronicdevice 110 a, and the electronic device 110 a may store this informationin a storage unit (not shown) thereof. The processor 210 may obtain theinformation stored in the storage unit to determine a device to whichthe notification regarding the notification event is to be provided.

When the electronic device 110 a is determined to provide thenotification, the notification providing unit 220 provides thenotification. The notification may be provided, for example, in the formof sound, vibration, turning on of a screen, flickering of alight-emitting diode (LED), etc.

The communication unit 230 communicates with at least one wearabledevice 120. The communication unit 230 may transmit a control signal, asignal indicating the state of the electronic device 110 a, or data tothe at least one wearable device 120, or receive a control signal, asignal indicating the state of the at least one wearable device 120, ordata from the at least one wearable device 120.

When it is determined that the at least one wearable device 120 providesthe notification or both the electronic device 110 a and the at leastone wearable device 120 provide the notification, the processor 210transmits a notification request to the at least one wearable device 120to provide the notification, via the communication unit 230. Whenreceiving the notification request from the electronic device 110 a, theat least one wearable device 120 provides the notification.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the notification request mayinclude information regarding the type of the notification, contents ofthe notification, and form of the notification. The type of thenotification may include, for example, a text message, a phone call, anemail, a messenger message, an SNS notification, an applicationnotification, etc. The contents of the notification may include, forexample, the transmitter and contents of a text message, the caller ofthe phone call, the transmitter and contents of a messenger message, thecontents of an SNS notification, the contents of an applicationnotification, etc. Also, the contents of the notification may include anicon, a picture, text and/or other graphic, or the like to be displayedwhen the notification is provided. The form of the notification mayinclude, for example, sound, vibration, turning on of a screen,flickering of an LED, etc.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating criteria for determining whether awearable device is worn according to an exemplary embodiment.

As described above, according to exemplary embodiments, whether thewearable device is in the wearing state or the non-wearing state may bedetermined by the processor 210 of the electronic device 110 a or the atleast one wearable device 120. For example, it is determined that the atleast one wearable device 120 is in the wearing state in a case in whicha locking structure of the at least one wearable device 120 is fastenedand a reference time or less passes after a motion of the at least onewearable device 120 is detected, a case in which a reference time orless passes after a bio-signal is detected by the at least one wearabledevice 120, or a case in which the locking structure of the at least onewearable device 120 is fastened and a bio-signal is detected from the atleast one wearable device 120.

Whether the locking structure of the at least one wearable device 120 isfastened may be determined using a sensing value of a sensor included inthe locking structure of the at least one wearable device 120. Examplesof the sensor included in the locking structure may include a conductivesensor, a hall sensor, a magnetic sensor, etc.

A motion of the at least one wearable device 120 may be detected using amotion sensor or an acceleration sensor included in the at least onewearable device 120.

The at least one wearable device 120 may include a biosensor thatdetects a bio-signal and is thus capable of detecting a bio-signal.Examples of the biosensor may include a heart rate sensor, a pulsesensor, a blood pressure sensor, a sweat sensor, a body temperaturesensor, an iris sensor, a fingerprint sensor, etc.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a structure of a notification providingunit 220 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the notificationproviding unit 220 may include at least one selected from among avibration unit 410, a speaker 420, a display unit 430, and an LED 440.In one exemplary embodiment, the vibration unit 410 (e.g. a vibrator),the speaker 420, the display unit 430, and the LED 440 may beselectively included.

The vibration unit 410 generates vibration in the electronic device 110a of FIG. 2 by using a motor or the like. According to the currentexemplary embodiment, when the vibration unit 410 provides anotification in the form of vibration, the vibration unit 410 mayprovide the notification in the form of vibration having a predeterminedpattern.

The speaker 420 outputs sound. According to the current exemplaryembodiment, when the notification is provided in the form of sound, thespeaker 420 may output preset notification sound. According to oneexemplary embodiment, the type of the notification sound may be presetby a user. According to one exemplary embodiment, the type of thenotification sound may be preset based on the type of a notificationevent.

The display unit 430 displays various images thereon. According to thecurrent exemplary embodiment, when the notification is provided byturning on a screen of the display unit 430 or in the form of message,the screen of the display unit 430 is turned on or a notificationmessage may be displayed on the display unit 430 at a time of point thatthe notification is provided.

The LED 440 may provide the notification by being turned on or off.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a structure of a communication unit 230according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current embodiment, the communication unit 230 mayinclude at least one selected from a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) module510, a Bluetooth module 520, a near field communication (NFC) module530, a radio-frequency (RF) module 540, and a mobile communicationmodule 550. In one exemplary embodiment, the BLE module 510, theBluetooth module 520, the NFC module 530, the RF module 540, and themobile communication module 550 may be selectively included.

The mobile communication module 550 may transmit or receive a phone callor a text message or establish data communication via a mobilecommunication network. An example of the mobile communication networkincludes a communication network using at least one selected from amongsecond-generation mobile communication (e.g., Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Global system for Mobile communication (GSM), or PersonalDigital Cellular (PDC)), third-generation mobile communication (e.g.,International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000), Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access (W-CDMA), or Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000), and fourth-generation mobile communication (e.g., Long TermEvolution (LTE) or Long Term Evolution advanced (LTE-A)).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a structure of a wearable device 120 aaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 aincludes a processor 610, a notification providing unit 620 (e.g., anotification provider, etc.), and a communication unit 630 (e.g., atransceiver, etc.).

The processor 610 controls overall operations of the wearable device 120a. According to the current exemplary embodiment, when the processor 610receives a notification request from an electronic device 110 or anotherwearable device, the processor 610 provides a notification by using thenotification providing unit 620. The notification may be provided basedon information regarding the type of the notification, contents thenotification and form of the notification included in the notificationrequest.

When a notification event occurs in the wearable device 120 a, theprocessor 610 informs the electronic device 110 of the notificationevent. The notice of the notification event may include the type andcontents of the notification event. For example, the type of thenotification event includes a notification of an exercise application, anotification of an operating system (OS), etc. The contents of thenotification event may include an increase in a heartbeat, a danger of aloss, a low battery capacity, a weak network signal, etc.

The processor 610 obtains information indicating whether the wearabledevice 120 a is worn and transmits the information to the electronicdevice 110.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information (i.e., statusinformation) indicating whether the wearable device 120 a is wornincludes sensing values of sensors included in the wearable device 120a. For examples, the sensing values may include information regardingwhether a locking structure is fastened, information regarding motiondetection, a bio-signal, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the wearabledevice may sense that it is currently being worn based on a distance ofthe wearable device from a body of the user or from the electronicdevice 110. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the wearable device maysense that it is currently being worn based on whether it is incommunication with the electronic device 110. According to the currentexemplary embodiment, the processor 610 may transmit the sensing valuesto the electronic device 110.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the wearable device 120 a is worn is information indicatingwhether the wearable device 120 a is in the wearing state or thenon-wearing state. According to the current exemplary embodiment, theprocessor 610 determines whether the wearable device 120 a is in thewearing state or the non-wearing state based on the sensing values, andtransmits a result of determining whether the wearable device 120 a isin the wearing state or the non-wearing state to the electronic device110.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 610 periodicallytransmits to the electronic device 110 the information indicatingwhether the wearable device 120 a is worn. According to anotherexemplary embodiment, the processor 610 transmits the informationindicating whether the wearable device 120 a is worn to the electronicdevice 110 when the electronic device 110 requests the information.

When it is determined that the wearable device 120 a will provide thenotification, the notification providing unit 620 provides thenotification. The notification may be provided, for example, in the formof sound, vibration, turning on of a screen, flickering of an LED, etc.

The communication unit 630 communicates with the electronic device 110.The communication unit 630 may transmit a control signal, a signalindicating a state of the wearable device 120 a, or data to theelectronic device 110 or may receive a control signal, a signalindicating a state of the electronic device 110, or data from theelectronic device 110.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

An electronic device that performs methods of providing a notificationaccording to various exemplary embodiments may be, for example, theelectronic device 110 a illustrated in FIG. 2 that includes theprocessor 210, the notification providing unit 220, and thecommunication unit 230. However, embodiments of the present inventionare not limited to the electronic device 110 a of FIG. 2 and methods ofproviding a notification may be performed by electronic devices havingvarious structures according to exemplary embodiments. Exemplaryembodiments performed by the electronic device 110 a of FIG. 2 will bemainly described.

The processor 210 obtains information indicating whether the at leastone wearable device 120 is worn by a user (operation S702).

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn includes sensingvalues of sensors included in the at least one wearable device 120.According to the current exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 maydetermine whether the at least one wearable device 120 is in the wearingstate or the non-wearing state, based on the information indicatingwhether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn is informationregarding whether the at least one wearable device 120 is in the wearingstate or the non-wearing state. According to the current exemplaryembodiment, the at least one wearable device determines whether the atleast one wearable device 120 is in the wearing state or the non-wearingstate.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 may obtain theinformation indicating whether the at least one wearable device 120 isworn by requesting the at least one wearable device 120 to provide thisinformation.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the at least one wearabledevice 120 may periodically transmit the information indicating whetherthe at least one wearable device 120 is worn to the electronic device110 a, and the electronic device 110 a may store this information in astorage unit thereof (not shown). The processor 210 may obtain theinformation stored in the storage unit to determine a device to whichthe notification regarding the notification event is to be provided.

Next, when it is determined that the at least one wearable device 120 isin the wearing state (operation S704), the processor 210 requests the atleast one wearable device 120 to provide the notification (operationS706). When it is determined that any one of the at least one wearabledevice 120 is not in the wearing state (operation S704), thenotification providing unit 230 of the electronic device 110 a providesthe notification (operation S708).

According to the current exemplary embodiment, a notification may beprovided to a wearable device that is in the wearing state, therebyincreasing a probability that a user will check the notification.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification when there are a plurality of wearable devices ina wearing state, according to an exemplary embodiment. The exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 8 is applicable to embodiments in which whether awearable device that is in a wearing state exists is determined.

When it is determined that there are wearable devices that are in thewearing state (operation S802-YES), the processor 210 determines whetherthe number of the wearable devices in the wearing state is more than one(operation S806). When it is determined that there are no wearabledevices that are in the wearing state (operation S802-NO), theelectronic device provides the notification (operation S804). When it isdetermined that there is one wearable device in the wearing state(operation S806-NO), the wearable device that is being worn is requestedto provide a notification (operation S808).

When it is determined that there are a plurality of wearable devices inthe wearing state (operation S806-YES), it is determined whether awearable device that is in use is present among the plurality ofwearable devices in the wearing state (operation S810). The processor210 may request the plurality of wearable devices that are being worn toprovide information indicating whether they are in use to determinewhether the plurality of wearable devices are in use.

In one exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 or the electronicdevice 110 may be determined to be in use if the wearable device 120 orthe electronic device 110 have received input from the user within apredetermined time, are reproducing content, the wearable device 120 orthe electronic device 110 are executing an application, the wearabledevice 120 or the electronic device 110 are being operated in somemanner by a user, or a sensor of either the wearable device 120 or theelectronic device 110 is detecting the use of the wearable device 120 orthe electronic device 110 by the user. The states of the wearable device120 and the electronic device 110 may be stored in the electronic device110, wearable device 120 or both. In addition, the state of both devicesmay be updated periodically or upon request of an application or a userby receiving information about use from the wearable device 120 or theelectronic device 110.

When a wearable device in use is present among the plurality of wearabledevices in the wearing state, the wearable device that is in the wearingstate and in use is requested to provide the notification (operationS812). When no wearable device in use is present among the plurality ofwearable devices in the wearing state, one of the plurality of wearabledevices in the wearing state is requested to provide the notification,based on set priorities (operation S814).

According to one exemplary embodiment, the set priorities may becriteria determined in consideration of a user's state, a remainingcharge capacity of a battery, etc. When a plurality of wearable devicesin the wearing state are present, additional criterion may be used todetermine a wearable device to which the notification is to be provided.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the set priorities may bepreset priorities.

FIG. 9 is a table illustrating preset priorities according to anexemplary embodiment.

The preset priorities are priorities determined beforehand by a designeror set by a user.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the preset priorities areallocated to wearable devices that will provide a notification, based onthe type of the notification. For example, in the case of a soundnotification, priorities may be sequentially allocated to smart glasses,a smart watch, and a smart band. In the case of a vibrationnotification, priorities may be allocated to the smart watch, the smartband, and the smart glasses. In the case of a screen notification,priorities may be sequentially allocated to the smart glasses and thesmart watch.

In addition, priorities may be allocated to wearable devices regardlessof the type of the notification.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method of providing a notificationwhen there are a plurality of wearable devices in a wearing stateaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

As in the exemplary embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 8,when a plurality of wearable devices are in the wearing state, only oneof the plurality of wearable devices is provided with a notification inconsideration of the usage states of the wearable devices and setpriorities, thereby preventing a notification from being excessivelyprovided to a user. For example, according to the current embodiment,when two wearable devices, e.g., smart glasses 120-1 and a smart watch120-2, are in the wearable device as illustrated in FIG. 10, anotification is provided to only the smart glasses 120-1, consideringwhether the smart glasses 120-1 and the smart watch 120-2 are in use,the set priorities, etc. If the notification is provided to both thesmart glasses 120-1 and the smart watch 120-2 in the case of FIG. 10, auser may be startled or provided with the notification more thannecessary. Accordingly, according to the current exemplary embodiment,it is possible to appropriately provide a notification while minimizinginterruptions that may be caused to the user.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

In the method according to the current exemplary embodiment, whetherwearable devices that are in the wearing state are present and whetheran electronic device or at least one wearable device that is in use ispresent are considered.

When a notification event is detected (operation S1101), the processor210 determines whether any one of the electronic device 110 and the atleast one wearable device 120 is in use (operation S1102). The processor210 may determine whether the at least one wearable device 120 is in useby requesting the at least one wearable device 120 to provideinformation indicating whether it is in use.

When it is determined in operation S1102 that any one of the electronicdevice 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 is in use, anotification is provided to a device that is in use (operation S1104).

When it is determined in operation S1102 that any one of the electronicdevice 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 is not in use, theprocessor 210 obtains the information indicating whether the at leastone wearable device 120 is in the wearing state (operation S1106) anddetermines whether any one of the at least one wearable device 120 is inthe wearing state (operation S1108). If any one of the at least onewearing device 120 is in the wearing state, the wearable device in thewearing state is requested to provide the notification (operationS1110). If any one of the at least one wearing device 120 is not in thewearing state, the electronic device 110 or the at least one wearabledevice 120 is requested to provide the notification according to setpriorities (operation S1112).

FIG. 12 is a table illustrating cases in which it is determined that adevice is in use according to an exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the processor 210 may determine that awearable device in use in a case in which music or video is being playedback, a case in which a reference time or less passes after a user inputis detected, a case in which a screen is being updated according to auser command, or a case in which a screen is turned on. In one exemplaryembodiment, additional criteria may be further added or various criteriamay be determined.

The processor 210 of the electronic device 110 a requests each wearabledevice to provide information indicating whether the wearable device isin use, receives this information, and determines whether the wearabledevice is in use, based on the information.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the wearable device is in use is information indicating whetherthe wearable device is in use or not. In this case, it may be determinedthat the wearable device is in use when music or video is being playedback in the wearable device, when a reference time or less passes aftera user input is detected, when a screen is being updated according to auser command, or when a screen is turned on. When a state of thewearable device does not correspond to any of these cases, it may bedetermined that the wearable device is not in use and informationindicating this fact may be transmitted to the electronic device 110 a.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information indicatingwhether the wearable device is in use may include information indicatingwhether music or video is being played back, a point of time when alatest user input is detected, information indicating whether a screenis being updated, information indicating whether the screen is turnedon, etc. In this case, the processor 210 of the electronic device 110 amay receive this information from the wearable device and determinewhether the wearable device is in use, based on this information.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment in whichwhether the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device120 are in use is considered.

In an exemplary embodiment in which a notification is providedconsidering whether the electronic device 110 and the at least onewearable device 120 that communicate with each other are in use, thenotification may be provided to a device that a user is likely to check.In particular, when the notification is provided to a device in use, thenotification may be provided to the device to which the user iscurrently paying attention. Accordingly, the user need not manipulateanother device to check the notification, thereby increasing userconvenience.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

In the method according to the current exemplary embodiment, first,whether there is a wearable device in the wearing state is determined,and whether there is a device that is in use is determined when there isno wearable device in the wearing state, unlike in the method of FIG.11.

When a notification event is detected (operation S1402), the processor210 obtains information indicating whether at least one wearable deviceis worn by a user (operation S1404) and determines whether any one ofthe at least one wearable device is in the wearing state (operationS1406). When a wearable device in the wearing state is present, thewearable device is requested to provide a notification (operationS1408).

When any wearable device is not in the wearing state, the processor 210determines whether any device is in use among the electronic device 110and the at least one wearable device 120 (operation S1410). When it isdetermined in operation S1410 that a device in use is present, thenotification is provided to the device in use (operation S1412).

When it is determined in operation S1410 that a device in use is notpresent, the electronic device 110 or the at least one wearable device120 is requested to provide the notification according to set priorities(operation S1414).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification when a plurality of devices are in use accordingto an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 15 isapplicable to determine whether devices that are in use are present.

When it is determined that there is a device in use (operation S1502),whether a plurality of devices are in use is determined (operationS1506). When it is determined in operation S1506 that only one device isin use, the notification is provided to the device (operation S1508).When it is determined in operation S1506 that a plurality of devices arein use, the notification is provided to the plurality of devicesaccording to set priorities. The set priorities may be determined invarious ways, e.g., such that the notification is provided to a wearabledevice in the wearing state or such that a device to which thenotification is to be provided is determined according to predeterminedand stored priorities.

When it is determined that a device in use is not present (operationS1502), the notification is provided according to the set priorities(operation S1504). The set priorities may be determined in various ways,e.g., such that the notification is provided to a wearable device in thewearing state or such that a device to which the notification is to beprovided is determined according to predetermined and stored priorities.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, if whether a device inuse is present is considered when a device to which a notification is tobe provided is determined, the processor 210 further considers whether anotification is permitted to be provided while a function of the devicein use is performed so as to determine a device to which thenotification is to be provided. The current exemplary embodiment isapplicable to all of exemplary embodiments in which whether a device inuse is present is considered.

First, the processor 210 determines whether a device in use is present(operation S1602).

When it is determined in operation S1602 that a device in use ispresent, the processor 210 determines whether the notification ispermitted to be provided while a function of the device in use isperformed (operation S1604).

When it is determined in operation S1604 that the notification ispermitted to be provided while the function of the device in use isperformed, the processor 210 provides the notification to the device inuse (operation S1606).

When it is determined in operation S1604 that the notification is notpermitted to be provided while the function of the device in use isperformed, the processor 210 determines a device that will provide thenotification among other devices except for the device in use, based onset priorities (operation S1608).

When it is determined in operation S1602 that a device in use is notpresent, the processor 210 determines a device that will provide thenotification, based on the set priorities (operation S1610).

In operation S1612, the determined devices are then requested to providea notification (operation S1612).

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a notification isprovided according to an exemplary embodiment.

In the current exemplary embodiment, when a device in use is present, itis determined whether a notification is permitted to be provided while afunction is performed in the device in use as described above withreference to FIG. 16. FIG. 17 illustrates a case in which a text messageis input to the electronic device 110 while a game is being played inthe electronic device 110. In this case, even if user input is detectedwithin a reference time and it is thus determined that the electronicdevice 110 is in use, a user is interrupted when the notification isprovided while the user is playing the game. Thus, the processor 210determines that the notification is not permitted while the function isperformed. Thus, the processor 210 provides the notification to the atleast one wearable device 120 instead of the electronic device 110 inuse.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating that a notification is providedaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

In the current exemplary embodiment, when a device in use is present, itis determined whether a notification is permitted to be provided while afunction is performed in the device, as described above with referenceto FIG. 16. FIG. 18 illustrates a case in which a text message isreceived while a user makes a phone call with the electronic device 110.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18, if a phone call is made with theelectronic device 110, a screen of the electronic device 110 is turnedon and thus the electronic device 110 is determined to be in use.However, when a notification is provided during the phone call, the useris interrupted by the notification and the processor 210 thus determinesthat the notification is not permitted to be provided while thisfunction is performed. Accordingly, the processor 210 provides thenotification to the at least one wearable device 120 instead of theelectronic device 110.

FIG. 19 is a table illustrating a list of functions that do not permit anotification to be provided while the functions are performed accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 may determinewhether a notification is permitted to be provided while a function isperformed, based on a list of functions that do not permit anotification to be provided while the functions are performed. Forexample, the list of functions may include a game function, a navigationfunction, a video reproduction function, a presentation function, etc.The list of functions may be stored in a storage unit (not shown) or thelike.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a structure of an electronic device 110 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110b includes a processor 210, a notification providing unit 220 (e.g., anotification provider), a communication unit 230 (e.g., a communicator),and a sensor unit 2010 (e.g., a sensor).

The processor 210 controls overall operations of the electronic device110 b. According to the current exemplary embodiment, the processor 210detects a notification event and determines a device to which anotification of the notification event is to be provided. The device towhich the notification of the notification event is to be provided maybe at least one device selected from among the electronic device 110 band at least one wearable device 120 that communicates with theelectronic device 110 b.

The processor 210 may determine a device to which the notification ofthe notification event is to be provided, based on informationindicating whether the at least one wearable device 120 is worn by auser. According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 providesthe notification of the notification event to the at least one wearabledevice 120 when the at least one wearable device 120 is in the wearingstate, and provides the notification by using the providing unit 220 ofthe electronic device 110 b when the at least one wearable device 120 isnot in the wearing state. In one exemplary embodiment, when thenotification is provided to the at least one wearable device 120, theelectronic device 110 b may also provide the notification or theelectronic device 110 b may not provide the notification.

When it is determined that the electronic device 110 b provides thenotification, the notification providing unit 220 provides thenotification. The notification may be provided, for example, in the formof sound, vibration, turning on of a screen, flickering of an LED, etc.

The communication unit 230 communicates with the at least one wearabledevice 120.

When it is determined that the at least one wearable device 120 providesthe notification or both the electronic device 110 a and the at leastone wearable device 120 provide the notification, the processor 210transmits a notification request to the at least one wearable device 120via the communication unit 230 to request to provide the notification.When receiving the notification request from the electronic device 110b, the at least one wearable device 120 provides the notification to theat least one wearable device 120.

The sensor unit 2010 includes at least one sensor. The processor 210 maydetermine a user's state or a state of the electronic device 110 b byusing a sensing value of a sensor included in the sensor unit 2010.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment;

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 bincludes a processor 610, a notification providing unit 620 (e.g., anotification provider), a communication unit 630 (e.g., a transceiver),and a sensor unit 2110 (e.g., a sensor).

The processor 610 controls overall operations of the wearable device 120b. In the current exemplary embodiment, when the processor 610 receivesa notification request from an electronic device 110 or another wearabledevice, the processor 610 provides a notification by using thenotification providing unit 620. The notification may be provided basedon information regarding the type of the notification, contents of thenotification, and form of the notification included in the notificationrequest.

When a notification event occurs in the wearable device 120 b, theprocessor 610 informs the electronic device 110 of the notificationevent. The notification of the notification event may includeinformation regarding the type of the notification and contents ofnotification event.

The processor 610 obtains at least one among information regardingwhether the wearable device 120 b is worn by a user and informationregarding a state of the wearable device 120 b, and transmits theobtained information to the electronic device 110.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information regarding whetherthe wearable device 120 b is worn by a user includes sensing values ofsensors included in the sensor unit 2110.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information regardingwhether the wearable device 120 b is worn by a user indicates whetherthe wearable device 120 b is in the wearing state or the non-wearingstate. According to the current embodiment, the processor 2110determines whether the wearable device 120 b is in the wearing state orthe non-wearing state based on the sensing values obtained by the sensorunit 2110, and transmits a result of determining whether the wearabledevice 120 b is in the wearing state or the non-wearing state to theelectronic device 110.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information regarding thestate of the wearable device 120 b includes the sensing values of thesensors included in the sensor unit 2110.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information regarding thestate of the wearable device 120 b is information indicating a result ofdetermining the state of the wearable device 120 b based on the sensingvalues of the sensor unit 2110 by the processor 610. According to thecurrent exemplary embodiment, the processor 610 may determine the stateof the wearable device 120 b as being held with a user's hand, beingheld by a car holder, being put in a bag, etc., based on the sensingvalues of the sensor unit 2120.

When it is determined that the wearable device 120 b will provide thenotification, the notification providing unit 620 provides thenotification. The notification may be provided, for example, in the formof sound, vibration, turning on of a screen, flickering of an LED, etc.

The communication unit 630 communicates with the electronic device 110.The communication unit 630 may transmit a control signal, a signalindicating the state of the wearable device 120 b, data, etc. to theelectronic device 110 or receive a control signal, a signal indicatingthe state of the electronic device 110, data, etc. from the electronicdevice 110.

The sensor unit 2110 includes at least one sensor. The processor 610 maydetermine the state of a user or the state of the wearable device 120 b,based on a sensing value of the at least one sensor included in thesensor unit 2110.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a structure of a sensor unit 2010 includedin the electronic device 110 b of FIG. 20 or a structure of a sensorunit 2110 included in the wearable device 120 b of FIG. 21 according toan exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sensor unit 2010 or 2110 mayinclude at least one selected among an illumination sensor 2202, abiosensor 2204, an inclination sensor 2206, a position detection module2208, a proximity/touch sensor 2210, a touch screen 2212, a camera 2214,a temperature sensor 2216, an infrared sensor 2218, and an accelerationsensor 2220. In addition, the sensor unit 2010 or 2110 may furtherinclude other various sensors.

The sensor unit 2010 or 2110 may include various combinations of sensorsaccording to the types of the electronic device 110 b and the wearabledevice 120 b. For example, when the electronic device 110 b is embodiedin the form of a smartphone, the sensor unit 2010 may include theillumination sensor 2202, the inclination sensor 2206, the positiondetect ion module 2208, the proximity/touch sensor 2210, the touchscreen 2212, the camera 2214, and the acceleration sensor 2220. When thewearable device 120 b is embodied in the form of a smart watch, thesensor unit 2110 may include the biosensor 2204 (e.g., a heart ratesensor, a blood pressure sensor, a sweat sensor, etc.), the inclinationsensor 2206, the touch screen 2212, the temperature sensor 2216, and theacceleration sensor 2220. When the wearable device 120 b is embodied inthe form of smart glasses, the sensor unit 2110 may include theillumination sensor 2202, the biosensor 2204 (e.g., a pulse sensor, aniris sensor, etc.), the inclination sensor 2206, the position detectionmodule 2208, the proximity/touch sensor 2210, the camera 2214, and theacceleration sensor 2220.

Examples of the position detection module 2208 may include a globalpositioning system (GPS) module, a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) module, aBluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module, etc.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 b may beembodied in the form of a smart watch. In the wearable device 120 b inthe form of a smart watch, the sensors included in the sensor unit 2110may be disposed on a bottom 2322 of a watch plate 2330, an innercircumferential surface 2424 of a watch strap 2310, a locking unit 2326,etc. For example, a heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, a sweatsensor, a blood pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, etc. may bedisposed on the bottom 2322 of the watch plate 2330. A proximity/touchsensor, etc. may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface 2424of the watch strap 2310. A conductive sensor, a hall sensor, a magneticsensor, etc. may be disposed on the locking unit 2326 to sense whetherthe locking unit 2326 is fastened. A touch screen may be disposed on thewatch plate 2330. In addition, an acceleration sensor, an illuminationsensor, etc. may also be disposed on various locations on the wearabledevice 120 b.

The wearable device 120 b in the form of a smart watch may have astructure in which the watch strap 2310 is detachable from the watchplate 2330. In this case, a sensor (e.g., a conductive sensor, aproximity sensor, a hall sensor, a magnetic sensor, etc.) may bedisposed on portions of the watch strap 2310 and the watch plate 2330that are combined with each other to detect whether the watch strap 2310and the watch plate 2330 are combined with each other.

In wearable device 120 b such as a smart watch, the processor 610 maysense a motion of a user by using an acceleration sensor. For example,the processor 610 may determine whether the user is taking exercise oris driving a car, based on an acceleration pattern of sensed by theacceleration sensor.

The processor 610 may determine whether the locking unit 2326 isfastened and whether the smart watch is in the wearing state or thenon-wearing state, based on a value sensed by a biosensor such as aheart rate sensor.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 bmay be embodied in the form of smart glasses. In the wearable device 120b in the form of smart glasses, sensors may be disposed on a glass frame2410, glass temples 2420, portions 2430 of the glass temples 2420 thatcontact the temples of a user, nose pads 2440, glass lenses 2450, etc.For example, a touch sensor may be disposed on the glass frame 2410 orthe glass temples 2420, a pulse sensor may be disposed on the portions2430, an acceleration sensor or a touch sensor may be disposed on thenose pads 2440, or an iris sensor may be disposed on the glass lenses2450. That is, various sensors may be disposed on various locations onthe wearable device 120 b. According to one embodiment, a camera 2460may be disposed on a predetermined location on the glass temples 2420 orthe glass frame 2410.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 b in theform of smart glasses captures an image of a front area by using thecamera 2460 and analyzes the captured image to determine the state of auser. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 24, it may be determined thatthe user is reading a book when a book is photographed by the camera2460.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 bmay be embodied in the form of earphones. In the wearable device 120 bin the form of earphones, a sensor may be disposed on an outercircumferential portion 2510, a sound board 2520, etc. For example, aheart rate sensor may be disposed on the outer circumferential portion2510 and a temperature sensor may be disposed on the sound board 2520.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 bmay be embodied in the form of a smart shoe. In the wearable device 120b, a sensor may be disposed on a body 2610, a sole 2620, an insert 2630,etc. For example, a heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, a sweatsensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or the like may be disposed in theinsert 2630. An acceleration sensor, a motion sensor, a positiondetection module, or the like may also be disposed in the body 2610, thesole 2620, the insert 2630, etc.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 bmay be embodied in the form of a smart ring. In the wearable device 120b in the form of smart ring, a sensor may be disposed on a display unit2710, a body 2720, an inner circumferential surface 2730, an outercircumferential surface 2740, etc. For example, a touch screen may bedisposed on the display unit 2710, a temperature sensor or a heart ratesensor may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface 2730, or anacceleration sensor, a position detection module, a motion sensor, anillumination sensor, of the like may be disposed on the body 2720. Atouch sensor may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface 2740.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable device 120 baccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the wearable device 120 bmay be embodied in the form of a smart bracelet. In the wearable device120 b in the form of a smart bracelet, a sensor may be disposed on abody 2810, a locking unit 2820, an inner circumferential surface 2830,or the like. For example, an acceleration sensor, a motion sensor, aposition detection module, or the like may be disposed on the body 2810;a conductive sensor, a hall sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like maybe disposed on the locking unit 2820 to sense whether the locking unit2820 is fastened; or a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, or thelike may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface 2830.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device to which anotification is to be provided according to another exemplaryembodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 of theelectronic device 110 a or 110 b considers whether a recognizable deviceis present to determine a device to which a notification is to beprovided.

When it is determined that recognizable device is present (operationS2902), the processor 210 requests the recognizable device to provide anotification (operation S2904). When it is determined that arecognizable device is not present (operation S2902), the processor 210determines a device that will provide the notification, based on setpriorities (operation S2906) and requests this device to provide thenotification (operation S2908).

For example, in operations S814, S1112, S1414, S1504, S1510, and S1610,the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 29 may be one of the set prioritieswhen a device to which the notification is to be provided is determinedbased on the set priorities.

FIG. 30 is a table illustrating criteria for determining whether adevice is a recognizable device and a non-recognizable device accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 determineswhether a recognizable device is present. That is, the processor 210only determines whether a recognizable device is present, and determinesa current state as a non-recognizable state when there is norecognizable device. A device that is held with a user's hand, a devicethat is held by a car holder but a navigation function is not runtherein, a device in which music is played back, a device via which aconversation is being conducted, a device in which user's eye contact isdetected, etc. may be determined a recognizable device. According to thecurrent exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 does not determinewhether a device is in a non-recognizable state.

When pressure having a reference level or more is detected by a pressuresensor included in a housing of a device and a motion is sensed, thedevice may be determined as a device that is held with a user's hand. Asanother example, a device may be determined as a device that is heldwith a user's hand when a fingerprint is recognized or a temperature issensed.

Whether the electronic device 110 or the at least one wearable device120 is combined with a car holder may be determined using a sensorincluded in an interface between the car holder and the electronicdevice 110 or the at least one wearable device 120. For example, whetherthe electronic device 100 is combined with the car holder may bedetermined using a magnetic sensor, a hall sensor, a conductive sensor,a piezoelectric sensor, or the like that is included in a housing of theelectronic device 110 that contacts or that is combined with the carholder. As another example, whether the electronic device 110 or the atleast one wearable device 120 is combined with the car holder may bedetermined by detecting whether an electrode of the car holder contactsan electrode of the electronic device 110 or an electrode of the atleast one wearable device 120 or by exchanging a signal between theseelectrodes.

That music is being played back may be perceived through a function thatis being performed in a device.

That a conversion is being conducted may be perceived by receivingexternal voice using a microphone and perceiving a predetermined patternof the external voice. For example, that a conversation is beingconducted may be perceived by sensing repetitive voice of a specificperson.

User's eye contact may be detected by capturing an image using a cameradisposed near a display unit of the electronic device 110 or the atleast one wearable device 120 and detecting the eyes of a user from theimage.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a method of detecting a line of sightaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, an electronic device 110or a wearable device 120 may include a display unit 3120 and a camera310 capable of photographing a subject that the display unit 3120 faces.According to the current exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 of theelectronic device 110 or the processor 610 of the at least one wearabledevice 120 may detect a line of a user's sight of by photographing asubject that the display unit 3120 faces by using the camera 3110. Forexample, whether the line of the user's sight is toward the electronicdevice 110 or the wearable device 120 may be determined by detecting theeyes of the user from an image the camera 3110.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110may perceive that the line of the user's sight is toward the electronicdevice 110 itself rather than the at least one wearable device 120.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 maydetermine whether a non-recognizable device is present and determine acurrent state as a recognizable state when a non-recognizable device isnot detected. In this case, the processor 210 does not determine whethera device is recognizable. For example, the processor 210 may determinethat a device is in a non-recognizable state when a user is driving acar, is on the move, or is in a movie theater, when the device is in ado-not-disturb mode or in an airplane mode, when a phone call isconducted using the device, when the device is put in a bag or pocket,etc.

That the user is driving a car may be detected using the motion of asmart watch, a smart ring, or a smart bracelet. For example, it may bedetermined the user is driving a car when a motion of steering a handleis detected by a smart watch, a smart ring, or a smart bracelet. When anavigation function is run the electronic device 110 or the at least onewearable device 120, the processor 210 may also perceive that the useris driving a car. When an image viewed through front glass of anautomobile, an image of a dashboard, an image of a side mirror, etc. isdetected by a camera of smart glasses, it may also be determined that auser is driving a car.

When an irregular motion of the electronic device 110 or the wearabledevice 120 is detected together with a change in the location thereof,it may be determined that a user is on the move.

When the intensity of illumination is a reference level or less and aposition detection module detects that a user is in a movie theater, itmay be determined that the user in the movie theater. When an image of amovie theater is captured by a camera of smart glasses, it may also bedetermined that a user in a movie theater.

The do-not-disturb mode, the airplane mode, etc. may be perceived bydetermining a mode set in a device.

That a user is making a phone call may be perceived by detecting afunction that is being performed in a device.

When the intensity of illumination sensed by an illumination sensor isequal to a reference level or less and a proximity sensor senses that anobject is adjacent to a device, it may be determined that the device isput in a bag or a pocket.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 may detectcases in which a device is in a recognizable state or in anon-recognizable state and may not consider whether the device can berecognized when the device is neither in the recognizable state nor thenon-recognizable state.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, even if a notificationevent occurs (operation S3202), when the electronic device 110 is in thedo-not-disturb mode (operation S3204), providing of a notification isskipped (operation S3206).

The do-not-disturb mode is a mode in which a notification is notprovided to a user. According to an exemplary embodiment, a notificationof all of notification events including a phone call may be skipped inthe do-not-disturb mode. According to another exemplary embodiment, inthe do-not-disturb mode, a notification of a phone call may be providedbut a notification of notification events except for the phone call maybe skipped.

According to one exemplary embodiment, when the providing of thenotification is skipped (operation S3206), the contents of thenotification event may be stored in the electronic device 110 and thenotification may be provided to a user when the user turns on a screenof the electronic device 110.

When the electronic device 110 is not in the do-not-disturb mode(operation S3204), the processor 210 may determine a device that willprovide the notification, based various criteria according to variousexemplary embodiments (operation S3208), and request the determineddevice to provide the notification (operation S3210).

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs (operation S3302), whether a device that is in the do-not-disturbmode is present among the electronic device 110 and the at least onewearable device 120 is determined (operation S3304). The processor 210of the electronic device 110 may request the at least one wearabledevice 120 to provide information indicating whether the at least onewearable device 120 is in the do-not-disturb mode and receive thisinformation so as to determine whether the at least one wearable device120 is in the do-not-disturb mode.

When a device that is in the do-not-disturb mode is present among theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120(operation S3304), a device that will provide a notification (except forthe device that is in the do-not-disturb mode) is determined accordingto various exemplary embodiments (operation S3306). For example, whenthe electronic device 110 is in the do-not-disturb mode, a device thatwill provide the notification (except for the electronic device 110) isdetermined. As another example, a device that will provide thenotification (except for the at least one wearable device 120 that is inthe do-not-disturb mode) is determined.

When a device that is in the do-not-disturb mode is not present(operation S3304), a device that will provide the notification isselected from among the electronic device 110 and the at least onewearable device 120 (operation S3310).

When a device that will provide the notification is determined, thisdevice is requested to provide the notification (operation S3308).

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs (operation S3402), whether a device having an insufficientbattery capacity is present among the electronic device 110 and the atleast one wearable device 120 is determined (operation S3404). Here, theinsufficient battery capacity means that a remaining charge capacity ofa battery is less than a reference level. The reference level may be setto be the same or different for devices. The processor 210 of theelectronic device 110 may request the at least one wearable device 120to provide information regarding a remaining charge capacity of abattery thereof and receive this information so as to determine whetherthe at least one wearable device 120 has an insufficient batterycapacity.

When a device having an insufficient battery capacity is present(operation S3404), a device that will provide the notification (exceptfor the device having an insufficient battery capacity) is determinedaccording to various exemplary embodiments (operation S3406). Forexample, when the electronic device 110 has an insufficient batterycapacity, a device that will provide the notification (except for theelectronic device 110) is determined. As another example, a device thatwill provide the notification (except for the at least one wearabledevice 120 having an insufficient battery capacity) is determined.

When a device having an insufficient battery capacity is not present(operation S3404), a device that will provide the notification isselected from among the electronic device 110 and the at least onewearable device 120 (operation S3410).

When a device that will provide the notification is determined, thisdevice is requested to provide the notification (operation S3408)

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs (operation S3502), the processor 210 determines whether the atleast one wearable device 120 capable of communicating with theelectronic device 110 is present (operation S3504). The processor 210 ofthe electronic device 110 may detect a communication state between theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 todetermine whether the at least one wearable device 120 capable ofcommunicating with the electronic device 110 is present.

When the at least one wearable device 120 is capable of communicatingwith the electronic device 110 (operation S3504), a device that willprovide the notification is selected among the at least one wearabledevice 120 capable of communicating with the electronic device 110according to various exemplary embodiments (operation S3506) and isrequested to provide the notification (operation S3508).

When the at least one wearable device 120 capable of communicating withthe electronic device 110 is not present (operation S3504), theelectronic device 110 provides the notification (operation S3510).

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a structure for explaining a processof considering a communication state between devices according to anexemplary embodiment.

While an electronic device 110 operates such that it may communicatewith first to third wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3, theelectronic device 110 may not be capable of communicating with at leastone of the first to third wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 forexample, in a case in which the second wearable device 120-2 is poweredoff, in a case in which the third wearable device 120-3 is distant fromthe electronic device 110, or in a case in which the third wearabledevice 120-3 or the electronic device 110 cancels a communicationbetween the third wearable device 120-3 and the electronic device 110.According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs, first, a communication state between the electronic device 110and the first to third wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 may bechecked, thereby preventing a notification request from being nottransmitted or determining of a device, which will provide thenotification, from being delayed, caused when the communication state isnot considered.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs (operation S3702), the type of the notification event isdetermined (operation S3704) and it is determined whether apredetermined device that will provide a notification of thenotification event is present (operation S3706). For example, it may bedetermined beforehand that a notification of a phone call should beprovided by the electronic device 110 and a smart watch.

When the predetermined device that will provide the notification of thenotification event is present (operation S3706), the predetermineddevice is requested to provide the notification (operation S3712).

When the predetermined device that will provide a notification of thenotification event is not present (operation S3706), a device that willprovide the notification is determined based on set priorities accordingto various exemplary embodiments (operation S3708) and is requested toprovide the notification (operation S3710).

FIG. 38 is a table illustrating a device that is predetermined toprovide a notification according to the type of a notification eventaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

In one exemplary embodiment, an order of notification of the pluralityof wearable devices and the electronic device may be set. The pluralityof wearable devices and the electronic device may then be sentnotifications based on the order of notification. The order ofnotification may be determined based on status information of theelectronic device or the plurality of wearable devices. The order ofnotification may also be determined based on and based on the type ofnotification.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, a device that willprovide a notification is predetermined according to the type of anotification event and stored in a storage unit (not shown). Forexample, a notification of a phone call may be provided to theelectronic device 110 and a smart watch. When communication between adevice and the electronic device 110 is disconnected, a notificationindicating the type of the device may be provided to the electronicdevice 110. When a device has an insufficient battery capacity, anotification indicating this fact may be provided to the electronicdevice 110 and the device having the insufficient battery capacity.

When a notification event occurs, the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 32,33, 34, 35, and 37 may be performed before determining theabove-described criteria, i.e., whether a wearable device is in thewearing state, whether a device that is in use is present, whether arecognizable device is present, etc.

According to one exemplary embodiment, when a notification event occurs,the processor 210 may determine whether there is a device that ispredetermined to provide a notification according to the type of thenotification event according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 37,determine whether a wearable device that is able to communicate with theelectronic device 110 according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 35,determine whether there is a device that is in the do-not-disturb modeaccording to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 32 or 33, and determinewhether there is a device having an insufficient battery capacityaccording to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 34. The abovedeterminations are performed according to the priorities described abovebut all of the criteria need not be applied and various combinationsthereof may be used according to an exemplary embodiment. According tothe current exemplary embodiment, first, it is determined whether adevice that is predetermined to provide a notification according to thetype of a notification event is present, thereby minimizing process loadon the determination of a device that will provide the notification.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs, the processor 210 may determine whether a wearable device thatis able to communicate with the electronic device 110 is presentaccording to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 35, determine whetherthere is a device predetermined to provide a notification based on thetype of the notification event according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 37, determine whether there is a device that is in thedo-not-disturb mode according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 32 or33, and determine whether there is a device having an insufficientbattery capacity according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 34. Theabove determinations are performed according to the priorities describedabove but all of the criteria need not be applied and variouscombinations thereof may be used according to an exemplary embodiment.According to the current exemplary embodiment, a time delay caused by acommunication failure may be minimized.

In addition, the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 32, 33, 34, 35, and 37may be applied in various orders.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, a notification event isdetected (operation S3902), the states of the electronic device 110 andthe at least one wearable device 120 are detected (operation S3904), anda device that will provide a notification and a form of the notificationare determined (operation S3906). According to the current exemplaryembodiment, the processor 210 determines a device that will provide thenotification and a form of the notification based on the states of theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120.

Since the form of the notification is also considered based on thestates of the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device120, a probability that a user will immediately check the notificationmay be increase and interruptions that may be caused to the user may beminimized.

When the device that will provide the notification and the form of thenotification are determined, the device that will provide thenotification is requested to provide the notification (operation S3908).

FIG. 40 is a flowchart of a method of determining a form of anotification according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a form of anotification is set for the electronic device 110 or the at least onewearable device 120, the notification is provided in the set form.According to one exemplary embodiment, the form of the notification mayvary according to the type of an event.

When a form of the notification is set for a device determined toprovide the notification (operation S4002), the processor 210 requeststhe device to provide the notification in the set form (operationS4004). When a form of the notification is not set for a devicedetermined to provide the notification (operation S4002), the processor210 determines a form of the notification based on a predeterminedcriterion (operation S4006) and requests the device determined toprovide the notification to provide the notification in the form(operation S4008).

For example, the predetermined criterion for determining the form of thenotification includes determining the form of the notification accordingto the type of the notification event, providing the notification in aform that is set as a default, etc.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, a form of a notificationmay be set for all of the wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2 connected tothe electronic device 110 to establish communication with the electronicdevice 110 (operation S4102). For example, the electronic device 110 mayset a sound notification as the form of the notification of the smartglasses 120-1 and turn off the notification of the smart watch 120-2according to user input as illustrated in FIG. 41.

When the electronic device 110 sets a form of the notification of atleast one wearable device among the wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2(operation S4102), the electronic device 110 informs the at least onewearable device of the set form of the notification (operation S4104).For example, when the electronic device 110 does not change the form ofthe notification of the smart glasses 120-1 and changes the form of thenotification of the smart watch 120-2, a control signal for setting theform of the notification may be transmitted to the smart watch 120-2 forwhich the form of the notification is changed. The at least one wearabledevice 120-1 or 120-2 that receives the control signal from theelectronic device 110 may set the form of the notification thereofaccording to the control signal (operations S4106 and S4108).

FIG. 42 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, each of the at least onewearable device 120 may set a form of a notification thereof. Accordingto one exemplary embodiment, when each of the at least one wearabledevice 120 sets a form of a notification thereof (operation S4202), eachof the at least one wearable device 120 may inform the electronic device110 of the form of the notification thereof (operation S4204). Forexample, when a user sets a form of the notification of the smart watch120 as a vibration notification (operation S4202), the smart watch 120informs the electronic device 110 of this fact (operation S4204). Whenthe electronic device 110 receives the information that the form of thenotification of the smart watch 120 is set as the vibration notificationfrom the smart watch 120, the electronic device 110 stores and managesthe information (operation S4206).

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of a method of determining a form of anotification according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a device that willprovide a notification is determined, the processor 210 determineswhether the device is in a situation that is not appropriate forproviding a sound notification (operation S4302). Here, the situationthat is not appropriate for providing a sound notification means asituation in which a user is not likely to recognize the soundnotification due to surrounding noise or that is interrupted by thesound notification. The situation that is interrupted by the soundnotification may include, for example, when a user is attending alecture or is in a movie theater, etc.

According to one exemplary embodiment, information for determiningwhether the device is in a situation that is not appropriate forproviding the sound notification may be obtained by a device capable ofobtaining this information among the electronic device 110 and the atleast one wearable device 120. For example, in order to obtain theinformation whether the user is attending a lecture or is in a movietheater, smart glasses may capture an image by using a camera, theprocessor 210 of the electronic device 110 or the smart glasses mayrecognize a current situation based on the image captured by the smartglasses, and the processor 210 may determine that both the electronicdevice 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 are in the situationthat is not appropriate for providing the sound notification when theuser is attending a lecture.

When the device is not in the situation that is not appropriate forproviding the sound notification (operation S4302), the processor 210determines a form of the notification, including the sound notification(operation S4304). When the device is in the situation that is notappropriate for providing the sound notification (operation S4302), theprocessor 210 determines a form of the notification excluding the soundnotification (operation S4306).

FIG. 44 is a table illustrating a list of cases in which a soundnotification is not appropriate according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 maydetermine a case in which a noise level is equal to or greater than areference level, a case in which a user is attending a lecture, a casein which a user is in a movie theater, etc., as situations in which asound notification is not appropriate. The processor 210 may receivenoise via a microphone included in the electronic device 110 or thewearable device 120 and determine whether the level of the noise isequal to or greater than a reference level. Whether a user is attendinga lecture or is in a move theater may be determined based on an imagecaptured by a camera included in smart glasses.

FIG. 45 is a table illustrating examples of a predetermined device thatwill provide a notification and a predetermined form of the notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 may determine adevice that will provide a notification and a form of the notificationbased on predetermined criteria. FIG. 45 illustrates examples ofpredetermined criteria for a device that will provide a notification ofa notification event except for a phone call and a form of thenotification when the smart watch 120 and the electronic device 110 areused together.

When pressure having a reference level or more is detected by a pressuresensor included in a housing of the electronic device 110 or thewearable device 120 and the electronic device 110 or the wearable device120 is neither on a table nor in a pocket or a bag, it may be determinedthat the electronic device 110 or the wearable device 120 is held with auser's hand.

When acceleration perpendicular to a direction of gravity is detectedand a motion is not detected, the electronic device 110 or the wearabledevice 120 may be determined that it is on a table.

FIG. 46 is a table illustrating examples of predetermined criteria for adevice that will provide a notification of a notification event thatcommunication between the smart watch 120 and the electronic device 110is disconnected and a form of the notification when the smart watch 120and the electronic device 110 are used together, according to anexemplary embodiment

FIG. 47 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a plurality ofdevices provide a notification (operation S4702) and the notification ischecked in one of the plurality of devices (operation S4704), the devicetransmits information indicating that the notification is checked to theother devices (operation S4706) and cancels the notification in theother devices (operation S4708). According to the current exemplaryembodiment, the notification may be prevented from being continuedunnecessarily.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a plurality ofdevices 110, 120-1, and 120-2 provide a notification and thenotification is checked in a device among them, the device informs theother devices that the notification is checked and the electronic device110 requests the other devices to cancel the notification. For example,when the notification is provided to the electronic device 110, thefirst wearable device 120-1, and the second wearable device 120-2 and ischecked in the second wearable device 120-2 (operation S4802), thesecond wearable device 120-2 informs the electronic device 110 that thenotification is checked (operation S4804). When the electronic device110 receives the information indicating the notification is checked fromthe second wearable device 120-2 (operation S4804), it is determinedwhether the notification is provided to another device except for thesecond wearable device 120-2 and the electronic device 110. When thenotification is provided to another device, the device is requested tocancel the notification (operation S4806). Referring to FIG. 48, theelectronic device 110 requests the first wearable device 120-1 to cancelthe notification (operation S4806). Then, the notification is canceledin the first wearable device 120-1 and the electronic device 110(operations S4808 and S4810).

In one exemplary embodiment, once a notification is received,acknowledged or seen by a user at one device from among the plurality ofwearable devices and electronic device, the notification may be removedfrom one or more of the remaining devices from among the plurality ofwearable devices and electronic device.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a plurality ofdevices 110, 120-1, and 120-2 provide a notification and thenotification is checked in a device among them, the device informs theother devices or another device to which the notification is provided ofthe fact that the notification is checked. For example, when thenotification is provided to the electronic device 110, the firstwearable device 120-1, and the second wearable device 120-2 and ischecked in the second wearable device 120-2 (operation S4902), thesecond wearable device 120-2 informs the electronic device 110 and thefirst wearable device 120-1 of the fact that the notification is checked(operation S4904). Then, the electronic device 110 and the firstwearable device 120-1 receive this information from the second wearabledevice 120-2, and cancel the notification (operations S4906 and S4908).

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a method of determining a device thatprovides a notification according to an exemplary embodiment;

According to the current exemplary embodiment, an electronic device 110determines either a device that will provide a notification or a form ofthe notification regardless of a device in which a notification eventoccurs. In this case, information regarding the states of the wearabledevices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 is transmitted to the electronic device110 and the electronic device 110 may determine a device that willprovide a notification or a form of the notification based on theinformation regarding the states of the wearable devices 120-1, 120-2,and 120-3.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, a notification event mayoccur in the electronic device 110 or the wearable device 120(operations S5102 and S5104). When the notification event occurs in thewearable device 120 (operation S5104), the at least one wearable device120 informs the electronic device 110 of the notification event(operation S5106). The electronic device 110 obtains informationregarding the state of the wearable device 120 periodically or at apoint of time when the occurrence of the notification event is informed(operation S5108).

When the electronic device 110 obtains the information regarding thestates of the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device120, the electronic device 110 may determine a device that will providea notification according to one of the previous exemplary embodiments(operation S5110). If it is determined that the wearable device 120 willprovide the notification, the electronic device 110 requests thewearable device 120 to provide the notification (operation S5112). Then,the electronic device 110 and/or the wearable device 120 provide thenotification (operations S5114 and S5116).

FIG. 52 is a flowchart of a method of determining a device that willprovide a notification according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 52illustrates a detailed example of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 51.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a heart rateincreases and a notification event thus occurs while the wearable device120 monitors the heart rate (operation S5202), the wearable device 120informs the electronic device 110 of the notification event regarding anincrease in the heart rate (operation S5204). When the electronic device110 receives the information regarding the event from the wearabledevice 120, the electronic device 110 determines a device that willprovide a notification and a form of the notification (operation S5206).For example, the electronic device 110 determines the notification to beprovided by itself by turning on a screen, using a sound notification,or displaying a message. Then, the electronic device 110 provides thenotification in the determined form (operation S5208).

According to one exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110 mayadditionally inform the wearable device 120 (in which the notificationevent occurs) that another device will provide the notification.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the at least one wearabledevice 120 provides information regarding a state thereof to theelectronic device 110 regardless of whether a notification event occurs,and the electronic device 110 determines a device that will provide anotification when a notification event occurs, based on the informationregarding the state of the at least one wearable device 120 that theelectronic device 110 receives and stores.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the at least one wearable device120 may periodically detect information regarding the state thereof(operations S5302 and S5306), and transmit the information to theelectronic device 110 (operations S5304 and S5308). For example, theinformation regarding the state of the at least one wearable device 120may include information regarding whether a locking structure of the atleast one wearable device 120 is fastened, information regarding motiondetection, a bio-signal, etc.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110 mayperiodically request the at least one wearable device 120 to provideinformation regarding the state thereof, and the at least one wearabledevice 120 may transmit the information regarding the state thereof tothe electronic device 110 whenever the electronic device 110 requeststhis information.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the at least one wearabledevice 120 may transmit the information regarding the state thereof tothe electronic device 110 in a predetermined cycle even when theelectronic device 110 does not request this information. In this case,when communication is established between the electronic device 110 andthe at least one wearable device 120, the electronic device 110transmits to the at least one wearable device 120 information regardinga cycle in which the information regarding the state of the at least onewearable device 120 is transmitted, and the at least one wearable device120 may transmit the information regarding the state thereof in thecycle set by the electronic device 110.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when the at least onewearable device 120 detects a change in the information regarding thestate thereof (operations S5302 and S5306), the at least one wearabledevice 120 may transmit information regarding the state thereof or achange value in the information regarding the state to the electronicdevice 110 (operations S5304 and S5308). According to the currentexemplary embodiment, when communication is established between theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120,information regarding a current state of the at least one wearabledevice 120 may be transmitted to the electronic device 110 and be thentransmitted to the electronic device 110 whenever the state of the atleast one wearable device 120 changes.

According to one exemplary embodiment, when a degree of a change in theinformation regarding the state of the at least one wearable device 120is equal to or greater than a reference value, the at least one wearabledevice 120 may transmit information regarding the state thereof to theelectronic device 110. For example, the at least one wearable device 120may transmit information regarding a heart rate to the electronic device110 only when a degree of a change in the information regarding theheart rate is 10% or more.

When the electronic device 110 receives the information regarding thestate of the at least one wearable device 120 according to one of theprevious exemplary embodiments, the electronic device 110 stores thisinformation. When a notification event is detected (operation S5310),the electronic device 110 obtains the stored information (operationS5312) and determines a device that will provide a notification or aform of the notification (operation S5314). In exemplary embodiments,information regarding a state of the electronic device 110 may bedetected periodically or when a notification event is detected.

When it is determined that the at least one wearable device 120 willprovide the notification (operation S5316), the electronic device 110requests the at least one wearable device 120 to provide thenotification (operation S5316). When the at least one wearable device120 receives a notification request, the at least one wearable device120 provides the notification (operation S5320). When it is determinedthat the electronic device 110 will provide the notification, theelectronic device 110 provides the notification (operation S5318).

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs, a device that will provide a notification may be determineddirectly without collecting state information notification, therebyminimizing a delay in transmitting the notification.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventis detected, information regarding states of the electronic device 110and the at least one wearable device 120 is detected and shared.

When a notification event is detected (operation S5402), the electronicdevice 110 requests the at least one wearable device 120 to provideinformation regarding the state thereof (operation S5404). When the atleast one wearable device 120 receives the request for the informationregarding the state from the electronic device 110, the at least onewearable device 120 detects the state thereof (operation S5408) andtransmit information regarding the state to the electronic device 110(operation S5410). When the notification event is detected (operationS5402), the electronic device 110 detects information regarding thestate thereof (operation S5406).

When the information regarding the states of the electronic device 110and the at least one wearable device 120 is obtained, the electronicdevice determines a device that will provide a notification and a formof the notification based on this information (operation S5412).

When it is determined that the at least one wearable device 120 willprovide the notification, the electronic device 110 requests the atleast one wearable device 120 to provide the notification (operationS5414). When the at least one wearable device 120 receives anotification request, the at least one wearable device 120 provides thenotification (operation S5418). When it is determined that theelectronic device 110 will provide the notification, the electronicdevice 110 provides the notification (operation S5416).

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the states of theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 aredetected only when a notification event is detected, thereby minimizingload when the states are detected.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, a device in which anotification event occurs determines a device that will provide anotification. Referring to FIG. 55, a case in which a notification eventoccurs in the wearable device 120 while the electronic device 110 andthe wearable device 120 operate such that communication can beestablished therebetween will be described below.

When a notification event occurs in the wearable device 120 (operationS5502), the wearable device 120 determines a device that will providethe notification based on information regarding the states of theelectronic device 110 and the wearable device 120 (operation S5506). Apoint of time when the information regarding the states of theelectronic device 110 and the wearable device 120 is obtained (operationS5504) may vary according to an exemplary embodiment.

When it is determined that the electronic device 110 or another wearabledevice will provides a notification, the wearable device 120 requeststhe electronic device 110 or the other wearable device to provide thenotification (operation S5508). When the electronic device 110 receivesa notification request, the electronic device 110 provides thenotification (operation S5510). When it is determined that the wearabledevice 120 will provides the notification, the wearable device 120provides the notification (operation S5512).

According to the current exemplary embodiment, it is possible to reduceload on the electronic device 110 and load caused when communication isestablished between devices.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 56 illustrates a detailed example ofthe embodiment of FIG. 55.

When a notification event that an increase in a heart rate should beinformed occurs while the wearable device 120 monitors the heart rate(operation S5602), the wearable device 120 in which the notificationevent occurs determines a device that will provide a notification, basedon the states of the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearabledevice 120 (operation S5604). When it is determined that the electronicdevice 110 will provide a notification (operation S5604), the at leastone wearable device 120 transmits a notification request to theelectronic device 110 (operation S5606).

When the electronic device 110 receives the notification request, theelectronic device 110 provides a notification regarding the increase inthe heart rate, based on the contents of the notification request(operation S5608). For example, when the notification request indicatesturning on a screen, outputting sound, and displaying a messageindicating the increase in the heart rate as a form of the notification,sound is output and the message is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 56.

FIG. 57A is a flowchart of a method of providing a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110and at least one wearable device, e.g., the first and second wearabledevices 120-1 and 120-2, share information regarding the states thereofregardless of whether a notification event occurs, and a device in whicha notification event occurs determines a device that will provide anotification. FIG. 57A illustrates a case in which the notificationevent occurs in the first wearable device 120-1.

The electronic device 110, the first wearable device 120-1, and thesecond wearable device 120-2 detect the states thereof (operationsS5702, S5706, and S5710), and broadcast information regarding the statesthereof to one another (operations S5704, S5708, and S5712).

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information regarding thestates of the devices may be periodically detected and broadcast.According to one exemplary embodiment, the information regarding thestates of the devices may also be sequentially detected and broadcast ina predetermined order. For example, the information regarding the statesof the devices may be sequentially detected and transmitted in the orderof the first wearable device 120-1, the electronic device 110, and thesecond wearable device 120-2.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the detecting andbroadcasting of the information regarding the states thereof may beperformed after a change in this information is detected. For example,the first wearable device 120-1 may broadcast the information regardingthe states of the devices, which indicates a changed state of the firstwearable device 120-1, only when the state of the first wearable device120-1 changes. In another example, the second wearable device 120-2 maybroadcast the information regarding the states of the devices, whichindicates a changed state of the second wearable device 120-2, only whenthe state of the second wearable device 120-2 changes. In yet anotherexample, the electronic device 110 may broadcast the informationregarding the states of the devices, which indicates a changed state ofthe electronic device 110, only when the state of the electronic device110 changes.

The information regarding the states of the devices may include, forexample, information indicating whether the first wearable device 120-1or the second wearable device 120-2 is worn by a user, and informationindicating whether the first wearable device 120-1, the electronicdevice 110, or the second wearable device 120-2 is being used by theuser.

For example, when a change in an attached/detached state of the firstwearable device 120-1 is detected, information regarding thewearing/not-wearing state (e.g., state information indicating whetherthe device is attached to a user) of the first wearable device 120-1 maybe broadcast to the electronic device 110 and the second wearable device120-2. As another example, when a degree of a change in a heart ratedetected by the second wearable device 120-2 is a reference level ormore, information regarding the heart rate detected by the secondwearable device 120-2 may be broadcast to the electronic device 110 andthe first wearable device 120-1.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the wearable device 120 is asmart watch, the smart watch may determine whether there is a change ina wearing state of the smart watch, by sensing one or more of aconnection state of a clasp of the smart watch by using a sensor (forexample, a conductive sensor, a hall sensor, a magnetic sensor, etc.)included in the clasp of the smart watch, by sensing a motion of thesmart watch by using a motion sensor in the smart watch, or by detectinga bio-signal of a user by using a bio-sensor in the smart watch. Whenthe wearing state of the smart watch changes, the smart watch maybroadcast information indicating the change in the wearing state.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the wearable device 120 issmart glasses, the smart glasses may determine whether there is a changein a wearing state of the smart glasses, based on a sensing value thatis sensed by using one or more of a touch sensor disposed in a frame ofthe smart glasses, a touch sensor disposed in temples of the glasses, apulse sensor disposed in a part of the temples of the glasses thatcontacts the temples of the user, an accelerometer sensor and a touchsensor disposed in a nose pad, and an iris sensor disposed in a glasslens. When the wearing state of the smart glasses changes, the smartglasses may broadcast information indicating the change in the wearingstate.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the wearable device 120 is anearphone, the earphone may determine whether there is a change in awearing state of the earphone, based on a sensing value that is sensedby using one or more of a heartbeat sensor disposed in an outercircumferential portion of the earphone, and a temperature sensordisposed in a soundboard. When the wearing state of the earphonechanges, the earphone may broadcast information indicating the change inthe wearing state.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the wearable device 120 issmart shoes, the smart shoes may determine whether there is a change ina wearing state of the smart shoes, based on a sensing value that issensed by using one or more of a heartbeat sensor, a temperature sensor,a perspiration sensor, and a piezoelectric sensor that are disposed in aheel insert of the smart shoes, and an accelerometer sensor, a motionsensor, and a position sensitive detector module that are disposed in abody, a sole, and the heel insert of the smart shoes. When the wearingstate of the smart shoes changes, the smart shoes may broadcastinformation indicating the change in the wearing state.

Although the above exemplary embodiment describes a case in which thewearable device 120 broadcasts information indicating a change in thewearing state of the wearable device 120 when there is the change in thewearing state, the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Thewearable device 120 may broadcast information indicating a usage stateof the wearable device 120 when there is a change in the usage state ofthe wearable device 120. For example, the wearable device 120 maybroadcast information indicating whether the wearable device 120 is inuse and information regarding an operation executed in the wearabledevice 120.

When a notification event is detected in one of the electronic device110 and the first and second wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2 (operationS5714), the device in which the notification event occurs determines adevice that will provide a notification (operation S5716). If thenotification event occurs in the first wearable device 120-1 (operationS5714), the first wearable device 120-1 determines a device that willprovide the notification (operation S5716).

If it is determined that a device except for the device in which thenotification event occurs determines a device that will provide thenotification, the device in which the notification event occurstransmits a notification request to the device that will provide thenotification (operations S5718 and S5720). When the electronic device110 or the second wearable device 120-2 receives the notificationrequest, the electronic device 110 or the second wearable device 120-2provides the notification (operations S5722 and S5726). If it isdetermined that the first wearable device 120-1 will provide thenotification, the first wearable device 120-1 provides the notification(operation S5724).

FIG. 57B is a flowchart of a method of providing a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventis detected, the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearabledevice 120 detect and share information regarding the states thereof,and a device in which the notification event occurs determines a devicethat will provide a notification. FIG. 57B illustrates a case in whichthe notification event occurs in the first wearable device 120-1.

When the notification event is detected by one of the electronic device110 and the first and second wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2 (operationS5802), the device that detects the notification event requests theother devices to provide information regarding the states thereof(operation S5804). If the notification events occurs in the firstwearable device 120-1 (operation S5802), the first wearable device 120-1requests the electronic device 110 and the second wearable device 120-2to provide the information regarding the states thereof (operationsS5804 and S5806).

A device that receives the request to provide the information regardingthe state thereof detects the state thereof (operations S5808 andS5812), and transmits information regarding the states thereof to thedevice in which the notification event occurs (operations S5812 andS5814). The device in which the notification event occurs detects thestate thereof (operation S5810).

When the first wearable device 120-1 in which the notification event isdetected obtains the information regarding the states of the electronicdevice 110 and the second wearable device 120-2, the first wearabledevice 120-1 determines a device that will provide a notification, basedon the states of the electronic device 110, the first wearable device120-1, and the second wearable device 120-2 (operation S5816).

When it is determined that at least one device (except for the device inwhich the notification event occurs) will provide the notification, thedevice in which the notification event occurs transmits a notificationrequest to the at least one device that will provide the notification(operations S5818, S5820 and S5822). When the electronic device 110 orthe second wearable device 120-2 receives the notification request, theelectronic device 110 or the second wearable device 120-2 provides thenotification (operations S5824 and S5828). When it is determined thatthe first wearable device 120-1 will provide the notification, the firstwearable device 120-1 provides the notification (operation S5826).

FIG. 58 is a view illustrating an example of a smart watch 580 or smartglasses 582 broadcasting information indicating a change in a wearingstate thereof as the wearing state of the smart watch 580 or the smartglasses 582 changes.

Referring to FIG. 58, when a user removes the smart watch 580 fromhis/her wrist, the smart watch 580 may determine that the smart watch580 has been removed from the wrist of the user. The smart watch 580 maydetermine whether a clasp of the smart watch 580 is unclasped by using asensor disposed in the clasp of the smart watch 580, and may determinewhether to sense a bio-signal of the user via a bio-sensor disposed inthe smart watch 580. For example, if the clasp is unclasped and thesmart watch 580 activates the bio-sensor to sense the bio-signal of theuser, when the bio-signal of the user is not sensed, the smart watch 580may determine that the smart watch 580 is not attached to the wrist ofthe user. When it is determined that the smart watch 580 is not attachedto the wrist of the user, the smart watch 580 may broadcast informationindicating that the smart watch 580 is not attached to the wrist of theuser.

When the user takes off the smart glasses 582, the smart glasses 582 maydetermine that the smart glasses 582 are not on the face of the user.For example, when the smart glasses 582 sense that the user is holdingthe temples of the smart glasses 582, the smart glasses 582 may activatea heartbeat sensor disposed in the temples of the smart glasses 582 tosense the heartbeat of the user. When the heartbeat of the user is notsensed, the smart glasses 582 may determine that the smart glasses 582are not on the face of the user. When it is determined that the smartglasses 582 are not on the face of the user, the smart glasses 582 maybroadcast information indicating that the smart glasses 582 are not onthe face of the user.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, an electronic device 110may set a form of notification of all of wearable devices 120-1 and120-2 connected to the electronic device 110 such that communication maybe established therebetween. After the form of the notification is set,the electronic device 110 may transmit information regarding the form ofthe notification to all of the wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110may set a form of notification of each of the wearable devices 120-1 and120-2 connected to the electronic device 110 such that communication maybe established therebetween (operation S5902). For example, theelectronic device 110 may set a form of the notification of the smartglasses 120-1 as a sound notification and turn off the notification ofthe smart watch 120-2 according to user input as illustrated in FIG. 59.

When the electronic device 110 sets the form of the notification of atleast one among the wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2 (operation S5902),the electronic device 110 transmits information regarding the form ofthe notification to all of the wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2(operation S5904). For example, when the electronic device 110 does notchange the form of the notification of the smart glasses 120-1 andchanges the form of the notification of the smart watch 120-2, theelectronic device 110 transmits information regarding the form of thenotification of the smart watch 120-2 to the smart watch 120-1 and thesmart watch 120-2. According to one exemplary embodiment, the electronicdevice 110 may transmit a control signal for setting the form of thenotification to a device for which the form of the notification ischanged.

Next, a device that receives the information regarding the form of thenotification stores this information (operations S5906 and S5908). Whenthe information regarding the form of the notification is informationregarding the form of the notification of the device, the form of thenotification of the device is set based on the information regarding theform of the notification. For example, when the electronic device 110changes and sets the form of the notification of the smart watch 120-2,information regarding the form of the notification of the smart watch120-2 is transmitted to the smart glasses 120-1 and the smart watch120-2. The smart watch 120-2 may also change the form of thenotification thereof, based on the information regarding the form of thenotification or according to the control signal for setting the form ofthe notification which is transmitted from the electronic device 110(operation S5908).

FIG. 60 is a flowchart of a method of setting a form of a notificationaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, each wearable device mayset a form of a notification thereof and broadcast information regardingthe set form of the notification to the electronic device 110 and otherwearable devices.

For example, when the second wearable device 120-2 sets a form of thenotification thereof (operation S6002), the second wearable device 120-2broadcasts information regarding the set form of the notification to theelectronic device 110 and the other wearable device 120-1 (operationS6004). For example, when a user sets a form of the notification of thesmart watch 120-2 as a vibration notification (operation S6002), thesmart watch 120-2 transmits information indicating that the form of thenotification thereof is set as the vibration notification to the smartglasses 120-1 and the electronic device 110 (operation S6004). When thesmart glasses 120-1 receive from the smart watch 120-2 the informationindicating that the form of the notification of the smart watch 120-2 isset as the vibration notification, the smart glasses 120-1 store andmanage this information (operation S6006). The electronic device 110receives from the smart watch 120-2 the information indicating that theform of the notification of the smart watch 120-2 is set as thevibration notification, the electronic device 110 stores and managesthis information (operation S6008).

FIG. 61 is a block diagram of a server 6110, an electronic device 110,and at least one wearable device, e.g., first and second wearabledevices 120-1 and 120-2 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, when a notification eventoccurs in the electronic device 110 and the first and second wearabledevices 120-1 and 120-2, the server 6110 may determine a device thatwill provide a notification, based on the states of the electronicdevice 110 and the first and second wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2.

The server 6110 may communicate with the electronic device 110 and thefirst and second wearable devices 120-1 and 120-2 via a predeterminednetwork.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

When a notification event is detected in a device among an electronicdevice 110 and at least one wearable device 120 (operation S6202), adevice in which the notification event occurs informs a server 6110 ofthe notification event (operation S6204). When the server 6110 isinformed of the notification event, the server 6110 requests theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 toprovide information regarding the states thereof (operation S6206). Whenthe electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120receive the request for the information regarding the states thereof,they detect the states thereof (operations S6208 and S6210) and transmitinformation regarding the states thereof to the server 6110 (operationsS6212 and S6214).

When the server 6110 receives the information regarding the states ofthe electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120, theserver 6110 determines a device that will provide a notification and aform of the notification, based on this information (operation S6216).

When the device that will provide the notification and the form of thenotification are determined (operation S6216), the server 6110 transmitsa notification request to the device that will provide the notification(operation S6218). A device that receives the notification request amongthe electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120provides the notification (operations S6220 and S6222).

FIG. 63 is a flowchart of a method of providing a notification accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, an electronic device 110and at least one wearable device 120 transmit information regarding thestates thereof to a server 6110 regardless of whether a notificationevent occurs, and the server 6110 determines a device that will providea notification based on the information regarding the states of thedevices, which the server 6110 receives and stores, when a notificationevent occurs. FIG. 63 illustrates a case in which a notification eventoccurs in the electronic device 110.

The electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120detect the states thereof (operations S6302 and S6306), and transitinformation regarding the states thereof to the server 6110 (operationS6304 and S6308).

According to one exemplary embodiment, the information regarding thestates of the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device120 may be periodically detected and transmitted. According to oneexemplary embodiment, the information regarding the states of theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 may besequentially detected and transmitted in a predetermined order.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the information regarding thestates of the electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device120 may be detected and transmitted when a change in this information isdetected. For example, when a change in a wearing/not-wearing state ofthe at least one wearable device 120 is detected, information regardingthe attached/detached state of the at least one wearable device 120 maybe transmitted to the server 6110.

When a notification event is detected in a device among the electronicdevice 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 (operation S6310), adevice in which the notification event occurs informs the server 6110 ofthe notification event. When the notification event occurs in theelectronic device 110 (operation S6310), the electronic device 110informs the server 6110 of the notification event (operation S6312).

When the server 6110 is informed of the notification event, the server6110 determines a device that will provide a notification and a form ofthe notification, based on the information regarding the states of theelectronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120(operation S6314).

When the device that will provide the notification and the form of thenotification are determined (operation S6314), the server 6110 transmitsa notification request to the device that will provide the notification(operation S6316). A device that receives the notification request amongthe electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120provides the notification (operations S6318 and S6320).

FIG. 64 is a diagram illustrating a communication manner according to anexemplary embodiment.

According to exemplary embodiments, an electronic device 110 and atleast one wearable device (e.g., wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and120-3) exchange signals (e.g., a notification of a notification event, arequest for information regarding a device state, information regardinga device state, a notification request, etc.) with one another. Theexchange of the signals may be performed between the communication unit230 of the electronic device 110 (see FIG. 2) and the communication unit630 of each of the wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3.Communication may be established between the electronic device 110 andthe wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 according to communicationstandards employed to establish communication between devices.

According to one exemplary embodiment, communication may be establishedbetween the electronic device 110 and the wearable devices 120-1, 120-2,and 120-3 via the electronic device 110. According to the currentexemplary embodiment, the wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 mayestablish communication with another wearable device via the electronicdevice 110. For example, when the electronic device 110 and the wearabledevices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 communicate with one another based on aBLE communication mode, the electronic device 110 may act as a masterand the wearable devices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 may act as slaves.

According to one exemplary embodiment, when the electronic device 110 isin a non-communicable state, a device among the wearable devices 120-1,120-2, and 120-3 may act as a master in place of the electronic device110.

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a communication manner according to anexemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, an electronic device 110and at least one wearable device, e.g., wearable devices 120-1, 120-2,and 120-3, may directly communicate with each other. According to thecurrent exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110 and the wearabledevices 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 may communicate with one anotheraccording to the same communication manner.

FIG. 66 is a diagram illustrating a communication manner according to anexemplary embodiment.

According to the current exemplary embodiment, an electronic device 110and at least one wearable device, e.g., wearable devices 120-1, 120-2,and 120-3, may communicate with only some devices. For example, thecurrent exemplary embodiment may apply to a case in which devices employdifferent communication manners, a case in which direct communicationcannot be established due to a distance or the like, a case in whichdevices have insufficient available resources for communicating withanother device, etc.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart of a method of transmitting a signal according toan exemplary embodiment.

If the operating systems or protocols of an electronic device 110 and atleast one wearable device 120 are different, when a signal istransmitted between the electronic device 110 and at least one wearabledevice 120, the form of the signal may be transformed according to theoperating system of a device that will receive the signal and then thetransformed signal may be transmitted to the device. For example, whenthe electronic device 110 and the at least one wearable device 120 havedifferent operating systems, the electronic device 110 may generate asignal such as a request for state information, a notification request,etc. (operation S6702), and transform the form of the signal based onthe operating system or protocol of the at least one wearable device 120(operation S6704). The electronic device 110 transmits the transformedsignal to the at least one wearable device 120 (operation S6706). The atleast one wearable device 120 may receive the transformed signal fromthe electronic device 110 and transform this signal (operation S6708).

The signal may include a signal such as a notification of a notificationevent, a request for state information, a notification request, etc. Thesignal may include data such as a document, a photograph, music, video,etc.

FIG. 68 is a block diagram of structures of an electronic device 110 anda wearable device 120 according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the transforming of the signal(operation S6704 or S6708) may be performed using an application 6820installed in the electronic device 110 and/or an application 6840installed in the wearable device 120.

In the electronic device 110, a notification manager 6812 included in anoperating system 6810, controls an operation of determining a devicethat will provide a notification and/or a form of the notification andproviding the notification according to one of the previous exemplaryembodiments. The notification manager 6812 generates a control signalrelated to the notification and transmits a notification request to theapplication 6820 to the application 6820 via an application programminginterface (API) 6814. The application 6820 transforms the form of thecontrol signal transmitted via the API 6814 according to the operatingsystem or protocol of the at least one wearable device 120. Theapplication 6820 transmits the transformed control signal to acommunication unit 630 of the wearable device 120 via the communicationunit 230.

The at least one wearable device 120 receives the transformed controlsignal via the communication unit 630 and transmits it to theapplication 6840. The application 6840 transforms the transformedcontrol signal and transmits a result of transforming the transformedcontrol signal to an API 6834 when the transformed control signal needsto be transformed, and directly transmit the transformed control signalto the API 6834 when the transformed control signal need not betransformed.

The API 6834 transmits the received control signal to a notificationmanager 6832 included in an operating system 6830 of the wearable device120. The notification manager 6832 controls an operation related to thenotification according to the received control signal.

Similarly, a control signal related to the notification is transmittedfrom the wearable device 120 to the electronic device 110 via anotification manager 6821, the API 6834, the application 6840, and thecommunication unit 630. The electronic device 110 receives the controlsignal related to the notification, which is received via thecommunication unit 230, from the notification manager 6812 via theapplication 6820 and the API 6814 and performs an operation related tothe notification.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 110 and thewearable device 120 may share predetermined criteria (e.g., thepredetermined criteria of FIG. 45 or 46) for the form of thenotification or set values related to the notification whencommunication is first established between the electronic device 110 andthe wearable device 120 or when the wearable device 120 is firstregistered with the electronic device 110. For example, the electronicdevice 110 may transmit the predetermined criteria of FIG. 45 or 46 tothe wearable device 120 when communication is first established betweenthe electronic device 110 and the wearable device 120. The notificationmanager 6812 of the electronic device 110 and the notification manager6812 of the at least one wearable device 120 may manage and store theshared information related to the notification.

FIG. 69 is a block diagram of a structure of an electronic device 110 cor a wearable device 120 c according to an exemplary embodiment. Thestructure of the electronic device 110 c or the wearable device 120 cillustrated in FIG. 69 may apply to all of the electronic device 110 aof FIG. 2, the electronic device 110 b of FIG. 20, and the wearabledevice 120 a of FIG. 6, and the wearable device 120 b of FIG. 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 69, the structure of the electronic device 110 cor the at least one wearable device 120 c may apply to various devices,e.g., a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA),an MP3 player, a kiosk, an electronic picture frame, a navigationdevice, a digital TV, or a wearable device such as a wrist watch or ahead-mounted display (HMD).

Referring to FIG. 69, the electronic device 110 c or the at least onewearable device 120 c may include at least one among a display unit6910, a controller 6970, a memory 6920, a GPS chip 6925, a communicationunit 6930, a video processor 6935, an audio processor 6940, a user inputunit 6945, a microphone unit 6950, an imaging unit 6955, a speaker unit6960, and a motion sensor 6965.

The display unit 6910 may include a display panel 6911 and a controller(not shown) for controlling the display panel 6911. The display panel6911 may be embodied as any of various types of displays such as aliquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)display, an active matrix OLED (AM-OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP).The display panel 6911 may be embodied as a flexible, transparent, orwearable display panel. The display unit 6910 may be combined with atouch panel 6947 of the user input unit 6945 to be provided as a touchscreen (not shown). For example, the touch screen may include anintegral type module in which the display panel 6911 and the touch panel6947 are combined in an integrated structure.

The memory 6920 may include at least one among an internal memory (notshown) and an external memory (not shown).

The internal memory may include, for example, at least one among avolatile memory (e.g., a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a staticRAM (SRAM), a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), a nonvolatile memory(e.g., a one-time programmable ROM (OTPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM),an erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable andprogrammable ROM (EEPROM), a mask ROM, a Flash ROM, etc.), a hard discdrive (HDD), and a solid-state drive (SSD). According to an exemplaryembodiment, the controller 6970 may load a command or data received fromat least one among a nonvolatile memory and other elements to a volatilememory and process the command or data. The controller 6970 may storedata, which is received from or generated by another element, in anonvolatile memory.

The external memory may include, for example, at least one among acompact flash (CF), a secure digital (SD), a micro-secure digital(micro-SD), a mini-SD, an extreme digital (xD) and a memory stick.

The memory 6920 may store various programs and data for operating theelectronic device 110 c and the wearable device 120 c. For example, thememory 6920 may temporarily or semi-permanently store at least a part ofcontents to be displayed on a lock screen.

The controller 6970 may control the display unit 6910 to display atleast a part of the contents stored in the memory 6920 on the displayunit 6910. In other words, the controller 6970 may display some of thecontents stored in the memory 6920 on the display unit 6910. Otherwise,when a user makes a gesture on a region of the display unit 6910, thecontroller 6970 may perform a control operation corresponding to theuser's gesture.

The controller 6970 may include at least one among a RAM 6971, aread-only memory (ROM) 6972, a central processing unit (CPU) 6973, agraphic processing unit (GPU) 6974, and a bus 6975. The RAM 6971, theROM 6972, the CPU 6973, and the GPU 6974 may be connected via the bus6975.

The CPU 6973 accesses the memory 6920 and boots the system using anoperating system (OS) stored in the memory 6920. The CPU 6973 performsvarious operations using various programs, contents, data, and the likestored in the memory 6920.

Command sets for booting the system are stored in the ROM 6972. Forexample, when a turn-on command is input to the electronic device 110 cand the wearable device 120 c to supply power to the electronic device110 c and the wearable device 120 c, the CPU 6973 copies the OS storedin the memory 6920 to the RAM 6971 according to a command stored in theROM 6972, and runs the OS to boot the system. When the booting of thesystem is completed, the CPU 6973 copies the various programs stored inthe memory 6920 to the RAM 6971 and runs the various programs copied tothe RAM 6971 to perform various operations. When booting of theelectronic device 110 c and the at least one wearable device 120 c iscompleted, the GPU 6974 displays a user interface (UI) screen on aregion of the display unit 6910. Specifically, the GPU 6974 may create ascreen including an electronic document including various objects suchas contents, icons, menus, etc. The GPU 6974 calculates attributevalues, such as the coordinates, shape, size, and colors of each object,according to the layout of a screen. The GPU 6974 may also createscreens including various layouts including objects, based on thecalculated attribute values. The screens created by the GPU 6974 may beprovided to the display unit 6910 and displayed in regions of thedisplay unit 6910, respectively.

The GPS chip 6925 may receive a global positioning system (GPS) signalfrom a GPS satellite, and calculate current positions of the electronicdevice 110 c and the wearable device 120 c. The controller 6970 maycalculate the position of a user using the GPS chip 6925 when anavigation program is used or when the current position of a user isneeded.

The communication unit 6930 may communicate with various externaldevices according to various communication manners. The communicationunit 6930 may include at least one among a WiFi chip 6931, a Bluetoothchip 6932, a mobile communication chip 6933, and an NFC chip 6934. Thecontroller 6970 may communicate with various external devices via thecommunication unit 6930.

The WiFi chip 6931 and the Bluetooth chip 6932 may establishcommunication according to a WiFi manner and a Bluetooth manner,respectively. When the WiFi chip 6931 or the Bluetooth chip 6932 isused, various connection information, such as subsystem identification(SSID) and a session key, may first be transmitted/received,communication may be established using the various connectioninformation, and then various other information may betransmitted/received. The mobile communication chip 6933 means a chipthat establishes communication according to various communicationstandards such as IEEE, Zigbee, 3G, 3G partnership project (3GPP),long-term evolution (LTE), etc. The NFC chip 6934 is a chip thatoperates according to an NFC method using a frequency of 13.56 MHz amongvarious RF-ID frequencies, e.g., 135 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 433 MHz, 860 to 960MHz, and 2.45 GHz.

The video processor 6935 may process video data contained in contentsreceived via the communication unit 6930 or contents stored in thememory 6920. The video processor 6935 may perform various imageprocessing, such as decoding, scaling, noise filtering, frame rateconversion, resolution conversion, etc. on video data.

The audio processor 6940 may process audio data contained in contentsreceived via the communication unit 6930 or contents stored in thememory 6920. The audio processor 6940 may perform various processing,such as decoding, amplification, noise filtering, etc., on the audiodata.

When a reproduction program related to multimedia contents is run, thecontroller 6970, the video processor 6935 and the audio processor 6940may be driven to reproduce the multimedia contents. The speaker unit6960 may output audio data produced by the audio processor 6940.

The user input unit 6945 may receive various commands from a user. Theuser input unit 6945 may include at least one among a key 6946, a touchpanel 6947, and a pen recognition panel 6948.

The key 6946 may include various types of keys (e.g., mechanicalbuttons, wheels, etc.) formed in various regions (e.g., a front, side,rear surfaces) of the exterior of a main body of each of the electronicdevice 6910 c and the wearable device 120 c.

The touch panel 6947 may sense a user's touch input and output a touchevent value corresponding to a sensed touch signal. When the touch panel6947 is combined with the display panel 6911 to form a touch screen (notshown), the touch screen may be embodied as various touch sensors suchas an electrostatic touch sensor, a pressure-sensitive touch sensor, anda piezoelectric touch sensor. The electrostatic touch sensor calculatesthe coordinates of a touched point by sensing micro-electricity thatoccurs on a user's body by using a dielectric coated on a surface of atouch screen when a surface of a touch screen is touched by a part ofthe user's body. The pressure-sensitive touch sensor includes twoelectrode plates included in a touch screen, and calculates thecoordinates of a touched point by sensing electric current flows when auser touches the touch screen and the upper and lower plates contact onthe touched point. In general, a touch event may be generated on thetouch screen mainly by a user's finger but may be also generated using aconductive material that may cause a change in an electrostaticcapacitance.

The pen recognition panel 6948 may sense a proximity input or a touchinput that is input with a user's touch pen (e.g., a stylus pen or adigitizer pen), and output a sensed pen proximity event or a pen touchevent. The pen recognition panel 6948 may be embodied, for example,according to an EMR method, and may sense a touch or proximity inputaccording to a change in the intensity of an electromagnetic field,caused when a pen approaches a touch screen or when the touch screen istouched by the pen. In detail, the pen recognition panel 6948 mayinclude an electromagnetic induction coil sensor (not shown) having agrid structure, and an electronic signal processor (not shown) thatsequentially supplies an alternate current (AC) signal having apredetermined frequency to loop coils of the electromagnetic inductioncoil sensor. When a pen including a resonant circuit is located near theloop coil of the pen recognition panel 6948, a magnetic fieldtransmitted from the loop coil generates electric current in theresonant circuit in the pen, based on mutual electromagnetic induction.An induction field is generated from a coil of the resonant circuit inthe pen, based on the electric current. The pen recognition panel 6948may sense a point that a pen approaches or that is touched with the penby detecting the induction field in the loop coils that is ready toreceive a signal. The pen recognition panel 6948 may be prepared tooccupy a predetermined region of the bottom of the display panel 6911,e.g., a region covering a display region of the display panel 6911.

The microphone unit 6950 may receive a user's voice or other sound andtransform it into audio data. The controller 6970 may use the user'svoice input via the microphone unit 6950 to perform a call operation, ortransform the user's voice into audio data and store the audio data inthe memory 6920.

The imaging unit 6955 may capture a still image or video under controlof a user. The imaging unit 6955 may be embodied as, for example, afront camera and a rear camera.

When the imaging unit 6955 and the microphone unit 6950 are prepared,the controller 6970 may perform a control operation according to auser's voice input via the microphone unit 6950 or the user's motionrecognized by the imaging unit 6955. For example, the electronic device110 c and the wearable device 120 c may operate in a motion-controlledmode or a voice-controlled mode. When the imaging unit 6955 and themicrophone unit 6950 operate in the motion-controlled mode, thecontroller 6970 may activate the imaging unit 6955 to photograph a user,trace a change in the user's motion, and perform a control operationcorresponding to the change in the user's motion. When the imaging unit6955 and the microphone unit 6950 operate in the voice-controlled mode,the controller 6970 may analyze a user's voice input via the microphoneunit 6950, and operate in a voice recognition mode in which a controloperation is performed according to the analyzed user's voice.

The motion sensor 6965 may sense motions of the main bodies of theelectronic device 110 c and the at least one wearable device 120 c. Theelectronic device 110 c and the at least one wearable device 120 c maybe rotated or tilted in various directions. In this case, the motionsensor 6965 may sense the features of motions of the main bodies of theelectronic device 110 c and the at least one wearable device 120 c, suchas a direction and angle of rotation, an inclination, etc., by using atleast one among various sensors such as a geomagnetic sensor, agyrosensor, and an acceleration sensor.

In addition, although not shown, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 69,the electronic device 110 c and the at least one wearable device 120 cmay further include a universal serial bus (USB) port to which a USBconnector may be connected, various external input ports to whichvarious external terminals (such as a headset, a mouse, a local areanetwork (LAN)) are connected, a DMB chip that receives and processes adigital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) signal, various sensors, etc.

The terms of the elements of the electronic device 110 c and the atleast one wearable device 120 c described above may, however, bechanged. The electronic device 110 c and the at least one wearabledevice 120 c may each include at least one among the elements describedabove or may further include other elements.

The controller 6970 of FIG. 69 may correspond to the processor 210 ofthe electronic device 110 a or 110 b or the processor 610 of thewearable device 120 a or 120 b. The communication unit 6930 of FIG. 69may correspond to the communication unit 230 of the electronic device110 a or 110 b or the communication unit 630 of the wearable device 120a or 120 b. The display unit 6910 and the speaker unit 6960 of FIG. 69may correspond to the notification providing unit 220 of the electronicdevice 110 a or 110 b or the notification providing unit 620 of thewearable device 120 a or 120 b. The touch panel 6947, the microphone6950, the imaging unit 6955, and the motion sensor 6965 of FIG. 69 maycorrespond to the sensor unit 2010 of the electronic device 110 b andthe sensor unit 2110 of the wearable device 120 b.

As described above, according to the one or more of the above exemplaryembodiments, a notification that a user is not likely to check may beprevented from being provided.

Also, according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, aprobability that a user will immediately check a notification may beincreased.

Also, according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, anotification may be provided such that a user is not interrupted by thenotification.

Also, according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, anotification may be provided to a wearable device in an appropriate formwhen an electronic device and the wearable device operate whilecommunicating with each other.

It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described thereinshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplaryembodiment should typically be considered as available for other similarfeatures or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described withreference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madeherein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a communicationinterface; at least one processor configured to: receive a first messagethrough the communication interface; based on determining that two ormore wearable devices are connected to the electronic device through thecommunication interface, transmit notification information correspondingto the first message to the two or more wearable devices to providenotifications through each of the two or more wearable devices; inresponse to receiving first information which indicates that anotification corresponding to the first message is checked on a firstwearable device among the two or more wearable devices, transmit secondinformation which indicates that the first message is checked on anotherdevice to the two or more wearable devices except for the first wearabledevice.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the secondinformation comprises a request to cease providing of the notificationcorresponding to the first message.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1,further comprising a touch screen, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to: in response to receiving the first message,display a second notification corresponding to the first message on thetouch screen; in response to receiving the first information, cease thedisplaying the second notification on the touch screen.
 4. Theelectronic device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to based on determining that the second notificationis checked on the electronic device, transmit the second information tothe two or more wearable devices.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receivestate information related to a state of each of the two or more wearabledevices from the two or more wearable devices respectively.
 6. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to transmit the notification information based on thestate information of each of the two or more wearable devices.
 7. Amethod of controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:receiving a first message on the electronic device; based on determiningthat two or more wearable devices are connected to the electronicdevice, transmitting notification information corresponding to the firstmessage to the two or more wearable devices to provide notificationsthrough each of the two or more wearable devices; in response toreceiving first information which indicates that a notificationcorresponding to the first message is checked on a first wearable deviceamong the two or more wearable devices, transmitting second informationwhich indicates that the first message is checked on another device tothe two or more wearable devices except for the first wearable device.8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second information comprises arequest to cease providing of the notification corresponding to thefirst message.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: in responseto receiving the first message, displaying a second notificationcorresponding to the first message on a touch screen of the electronicdevice; in response to receiving the first information, ceasing thedisplaying the second notification on the touch screen.
 10. The methodof claim 9, further comprising, based on determining that the secondnotification is checked on the electronic device, transmitting thesecond information to the two or more wearable devices.
 11. The methodof claim 7, further comprising receiving state information related to astate of each of the two or more wearable devices from the two or morewearable devices respectively.
 12. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising transmitting the notification information based on the stateinformation of each of the two or more wearable devices.